Con*tempt" (?; 215), n.
[L. contemptus, fr. contemnere: cf. OF. contempt. See Contemn.]
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.
Shak.
3. An act
or expression denoting contempt.
Little insults and
contempts.
Spectator.
The contempt and anger of
his lip.
Shak.
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.
&fist; Contempt 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.
Syn. --
Disdain; scorn; derision; mockery; contumely; neglect; disregard; slight.
Hear it pronounced