CONTEMN

contemn, despise, scorn, disdain

(verb) look down on with disdain; “He despises the people he has to work for”; “The professor scorns the students who don’t catch on immediately”

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology

Verb

contemn (third-person singular simple present contemns, present participle contemning, simple past and past participle contemned)

(transitive, archaic) To disdain; to value at little or nothing; to treat or regard with contempt.

(legal) To commit an offence of contempt, such as contempt of court; to unlawfully flout (e.g. a ruling).

Synonyms

• despise, scorn

• See also despise

Antonyms

• honor

• respect

• revere

• venerate

Source: Wiktionary

Con*temn", v. t. [imp. & p.p. Contemned; p.pr. & vb.n. Contemning ( or ).] Etym: [L. contemnere, -temptum; con- + temnere to slight, despise: cf. OF. contemner.]

Definition: To view or treat with contempt, as mean and despicable; to reject with disdain; to despise; to scorn. Thy pompous delicacies I contemn. Milton. One who contemned divine and human laws. Dryden.

Syn.

– To despise; scorn; disdain; spurn; slight; neglect; underrate; overlook.

– To Contemn, Despise, Scorn, Disdain. Contemn is the generic term, and is applied especially to objects, qualities, etc., which are deemed contemptible, and but rarely to individuals; to despise is to regard or treat as mean, unbecoming, or worthless; to scorn is stronger, expressing a quick, indignant contempt; disdain is still stronger, denoting either unwarrantable pride and haughtiness or an abhorrence of what is base.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition