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American Dictionary of the English Language

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Contempt


CONTEMPT, noun [Latin See Contemn.]

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 7:1.

3. In law, disobedience of the rules and orders of a court, which is a punishable offense.