Part 2342

<hw>Con*tempt"</hw> <tt>(?; 215)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[L. <ets>contemptus</ets>, fr. <ets>contemnere</ets>: cf. OF. <ets>contempt</ets>. See <er>Contemn</er>.]</ety> <p><b>1.</b> <def>The act of contemning or despising; the feeling with which one regards that which is esteement mean, vile, or worthless; disdain; scorn.</def>

<blockquote>Criminal <b>contempt</b> of public feeling. <i>Macaulay.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote>Nothing, says Longinus, can be great, the <b>contempt</b> of which is great. <i>Addison.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>The state of being despised; disgrace; shame.</def>

<blockquote><b>Contempt</b> and begarry hangs upon thy back. <i>Shaks.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>3.</b> <def>An act or expression denoting contempt.</def>

<blockquote>Little insults and <b>contempts</b>. <i>Spectator.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote>The <b>contempt</b> and anger of his lip. <i>Shak.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>4.</b> <fld>(Law)</fld> <def>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.</def>

<note>&hand; <i>Contempt</i> 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.</note>

<syn>Syn. -- Disdain; scorn; derision; mockery; contumely; neglect; disregard; slight.</syn>

<h1>Contemptibility</h1> <Xpage=311>

<hw>Con*tempt`i*bil"i*ty</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <def>The quality of being contemptible; contemptibleness.</def>

<i>Speed.</i>

<h1>Contemptible</h1> <Xpage=311>

<hw>Con*tempt"i*ble</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <p><b>1.</b> <def>Worthy of contempt; deserving of scorn or disdain; mean; vile; despicable.</def>

<i>Milton.</i>

<blockquote>The arguments of tyranny are as<b>contemptible</b> as its force is dreadful. <i>Burke.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>Despised; scorned; neglected; abject.</def>

<i>Locke.</i>

<p><b>3.</b> <def>Insolent; scornful; contemptuous.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<blockquote>If she should make tender of her love, 't is very possible he 'll scorn it; for the man . . . hath a <b>contemptible</b> spirit. <i>Shak.</i></blockquote>

<syn>Syn. -- Despicable; abject; vile; mean; base; paltry; worthless; sorry; pitiful; scurrile.</syn> <usage> See <er>Contemptuous</er>. -- <er>Contemptible</er>, <er>Despicable</er>, <er>Pitiful</er>, <er>Paltry</er>. <i>Despicable</i> is stronger than <i>contemptible</i>, as <i>despise</i> is stronger than <i>contemn</i>. It implies keen disapprobation, with a mixture of anger. A man is <i>despicable</i> chiefly for low actions which mark his life, such as servility, baseness, or mean adulation. A man is <i>contemptible</i> for mean qualities which distinguish his character, especially those which show him to be weak, foolish, or worthless. Treachery is <i>despicable</i>, egotism is <i>contemptible</i>. <i>Pitiful</i> and <i>paltry</i> are applied to cases which are beneath anger, and are simply <i>contemptible</i> in a high degree.</usage>

<h1>Contemptibleness</h1> <Xpage=311>

<hw>Con*tempt"i*ble*ness</hw>, <tt>n.</tt> <def>The state or quality of being contemptible, or of being despised.</def>

<h1>Contemptibly</h1> <Xpage=311>

<hw>Con*tempt"i*bly</hw>, <tt>adv.</tt> <def>In a contemptible manner.</def>

<h1>Contemptuous</h1> <Xpage=311>