CONTEMPT
contempt
(noun) a willful disobedience to or disrespect for the authority of a court or legislative body
contempt, disrespect
(noun) a manner that is generally disrespectful and contemptuous
contempt, scorn
(noun) open disrespect for a person or thing
contempt, disdain, scorn, despite
(noun) lack of respect accompanied by a feeling of intense dislike; “he was held in contempt”; “the despite in which outsiders were held is legendary”
Source: WordNet® 3.1
Etymology
Noun
contempt (countable and uncountable, plural contempts)
(uncountable) The state or act of contemning; the feeling or attitude of regarding someone or something as inferior, base, or worthless; scorn, disdain.
The state of being despised or dishonored; disgrace.
(legal) Open disrespect or willful disobedience of the authority of a court of law or legislative body.
Synonyms
• See contempt
Antonyms
• See contempt
Source: Wiktionary
Con*tempt", n. Etym: [L. contemptus, fr. contemnere: cf. OF.
contempt. See Contemn.]
1. The act of contemning or despising; the feeling with which one
regards that which is esteement mean, vile, or worthless; disdain;
scorn.
Criminal contempt of public feeling. Macaulay.
Nothing, says Longinus, can be great, the contempt of which is great.
Addison.
2. The state of being despised; disgrace; shame.
Contempt and begarry hangs upon thy back. Shaks.
3. An act or expression denoting contempt.
Little insults and contempts. Spectator.
The contempt and anger of his lip. Shak.
4. (Law)
Definition: Disobedience of the rules, orders, or process of a court of
justice, or of rules or orders of a legislative body; disorderly,
contemptuous, or insolent language or behavior in presence of a
court, tending to disturb its proceedings, or impair the respect due
to its authority.
Note: Contempt is in some jurisdictions extended so as to include
publications reflecting injuriously on a court of justice, or
commenting unfairly on pending proceedings; in other jurisdictions
the courts are prohibited by statute or by the constitution from thus
exercising this process.
Syn.
– Disdain; scorn; derision; mockery; contumely; neglect; disregard;
slight.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition