contemn

American  

[kuhn-tem] / kənˈtɛm /

verb (used with object)

1. to treat or regard with disdain, scorn, or contempt.

   Synonyms:

   scorn, despise, disdain

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contemn British  

/ kənˈtɛm, -ˈtɛmə, kənˈtɛmnɪbəl, kənˈtɛmnə /

verb

1. formal (tr) to treat or regard with contempt; scorn

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Other Word Forms

• contemner noun
• contemnible adjective
• contemnibly adverb
• contemningly adverb
• contemnor noun
• precontemn verb (used with object)
• uncontemned adjective
• uncontemning adjective
• uncontemningly adverb

Etymology

Origin of contemn

1375–1425; late Middle English contempnen (< Middle French ) < Latin contemnere to despise, scorn, equivalent to con- con- + temnere to slight; see contempt

Example Sentences

"Did not William Blake contemn reason and paint the ghost of a flea?"

From Time Magazine Archive

What right," she asked herself, "has this man to undervalue and contemn my purpose?

From The Adventures of a Widow A Novel by Fawcett, Edgar

You admire, but while you admire you wonder, you reprobate, you contemn.

From French Classics by Wilkinson, William Cleaver

The silly crowd, by factious teachers brought To think that faith untrue, their youth was taught, Run on in new opinions, blindly bold, Neglect, contemn, and then assault the old.

From Dryden's Works Vol. 3 (of 18) Sir Martin Mar-All; The Tempest; An Evening's Love; Tyrannic Love by Dryden, John

His Good Word for Everybody Indeed, he has a good word for everybody, and discerns laudable qualities in some whom the world has agreed to contemn and cast out.

From Literary Shrines The Haunts of Some Famous American Authors by Wolfe, Theodore F. (Theodore Frelinghuysen)