contumely
[ kon-too-muh-lee, -tyoo-; kuhn-too-muh-lee, -tyoo-; kon-tuhm-lee, -tyoom, -chuhm ]
/ ˈkɒn tʊ mə li, -tyʊ-; kənˈtu mə li, -ˈtyu-; ˈkɒn təm li, -tyum, -tʃəm /
noun, plural con·tu·me·lies.
insulting display of contempt in words or actions; contemptuous or humiliating treatment.
a humiliating insult.
RELATED WORDS
Nearby words
controversial, controversy, controvert, contumacious, contumacy, contumely, contuse, contused wound, contusion, conté, conundrum
Origin of contumely
1350–1400; Middle English contumelie (< Anglo-French) < Latin contumēlia, perhaps akin to contumāx (see contumacy), though formation and sense development are unclear
SYNONYMS FOR contumely
Related forms
con·tu·me·li·ous [kon-too-mee-lee-uhs, -tyoo-] /ˌkɒn tuˈmi li əs, -tyu-/, adjectivecon·tu·me·li·ous·ly, adverbcon·tu·me·li·ous·ness, nounDictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for contumelious
British Dictionary definitions for contumelious
contumely
/ (ˈkɒntjʊmɪlɪ) /
noun plural -lies
scornful or insulting language or behaviour
a humiliating or scornful insult
Derived Forms
contumelious (ˌkɒntjʊˈmiːlɪəs), adjectivecontumeliously, adverbcontumeliousness, nounWord Origin for contumely
C14: from Latin contumēlia invective, from tumēre to swell, as with wrath
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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