contemn

  • 1Contemn — Con*temn (k[o^]n*t[e^]m ), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Contemned} ( t[e^]md); p. pr. & vb. n. {Contemning} ( t[e^]m n[i^]ng or t[e^]m [i^]ng).] [L. contemnere, temptum; con + temnere to slight, despise: cf. OF. contemner.] To view or treat with contempt …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 2contemn — I verb abhor, abominate, accuse, asperse, be contemptuous of, belittle, besmirch, calumniate, cast aspersions, censure, criticize, debase, debauch, decry, defile, denigrate, denounce, depreciate, deride, derogate, desecrate, despise, detest,… …

    Law dictionary

  • 3contemn — mid 15c., from O.Fr. contemner (15c.), from L. contemnere to despise, scorn (see CONTEMPT (Cf. contempt)) …

    Etymology dictionary

  • 4contemn — *despise, disdain, scorn, scout Analogous words: repudiate, reject (see DECLINE): slight, *neglect, disregard: flout, *scoff, jeer Contrasted words: venerate, *revere, reverence: respect, esteem, admire, regard (see under REG …

    New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • 5contemn — [kən tem′] vt. [ME contempnen < OFr contemner < L contemnere < com , intens. + temnere, to scorn] Chiefly Literary to treat or think of with contempt; scorn SYN. DESPISE contemner n. contemnor [kəntem′ər, kəntem′nər] …

    English World dictionary

  • 6contemn — See condemn. See condemn, contemn …

    Dictionary of problem words and expressions

  • 7contemn — transitive verb Etymology: Middle English contempnen, from Middle French contempner, from Latin contemnere, from com + temnere to despise Date: 15th century to view or treat with contempt ; scorn Synonyms: see despise • contemner also contemnor …

    New Collegiate Dictionary

  • 8contemn — contemner /keuhn tem euhr, tem neuhr/, contemnor /keuhn tem neuhr/, n. contemnible /keuhn tem neuh beuhl/, adj. contemnibly, adv. contemningly, adv. /keuhn tem /, v.t. to treat or regard with disdain, scorn, or contempt. [1375 1425; late ME… …

    Universalium

  • 9contemn — verb /kənˈtɛm/ To treat or regard with contempt. Syn: despise, scorn See Also: contemner, contempt, contemptibility, contemptible, contemptibly, contemptuous …

    Wiktionary

  • 10contemn — Synonyms and related words: abhor, abjure, be above, be contemptuous of, brush aside, care nothing for, chuck, chuck out, contradict, decline, deny, deride, despise, disapprove, discard, disclaim, discount, disdain, dismiss, disown, disparage,… …

    Moby Thesaurus

Pages