contempt

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   A strong feeling that someone or something is worthless and deserves no respect.

   She looked at the cheating student with utter contempt.

2. 2
   noun

   Disobedience or disrespect toward a court of law or its rules.

   He was held in contempt of court for refusing to answer the judge.

From Latin contemptus (“scorn”), from contemnō (“to scorn, despise”), from com- + temnō (“to despise”). Displaced native Old English forsewennes.

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