Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Contempt
Con-tempt′
(kŏn-tĕmt′; 215)
, Noun.
1.
The act of contemning or despising; the feeling with which one regards that which is esteemed 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. Shakespeare
3.
An act or expression denoting contempt.
Little insults and
contempts
. Spectator.
The
contempt
and anger of his lip. Shakespeare
4.
(Law)
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.
Syn. – Disdain; scorn; derision; mockery; contumely; neglect; disregard; slight.
Webster 1828 Edition
Contempt
CONTEMPT
,Noun.
1.
The act of despising; the act of viewing or considering and treating as mean, vile and worthless; disdain; hatred of what is mean or deemed vile. This word is one of the strongest expressions of a mean opinion which the language affords.Nothing, says Longinus, can be great, the contempt of which is great.
2.
The state of being despised; whence in a scriptural sense, shame, disgrace.Some shall awake to everlasting contempt. Daniel 7.
3.
In law, disobedience of the rules and orders of a court, which is a punishable offense.