'Contemn' definitions:

Definition of 'contemn'

(from WordNet)
verb
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]

Definition of 'Contemn'

From: 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]

Synonyms of 'contemn'

From: Moby Thesaurus

Words containing 'Contemn'