From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Contemn \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, as mean and despicable; to
reject with disdain; to despise; to scorn.
[1913 Webster]
Thy pompous delicacies I contemn. --Milton.
[1913 Webster]
One who contemned divine and human laws. --Dryden.
Syn: To despise; scorn; disdain; spurn; slight; neglect;
underrate; overlook.
Usage: 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.
[1913 Webster]
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
contemn
v 1: 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" [syn: {contemn}, {despise}, {scorn},
{disdain}]
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