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