contumely

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The etymology of the word contumely is doubtful but I am of the opinion that the derivation suggested here is not unsound.

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Definitions (7)

Toggle American Heritage definitions American Heritage Dictionary (2)

  1. noun Rudeness or contempt arising from arrogance; insolence.
  2. noun An insolent or arrogant remark or act.

Toggle Century definitions Century Dictionary (3)

Toggle GNU Webster definitions GNU Webster's 1913 (1)

Toggle WordNet definitions WordNet (1)

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Examples (50)

  • And he must remember this: the very prominence of his position will cause him to be the target of contumely, abuse and much stupid misunderstanding. —  The Project Gutenberg eBook of Little Journeys to the Homes of the Great: Great Musicians, by Elbert Hubbard
  • Your contumely is only surpassed by the, to be charitable, erratic spelling and grammar.
  • Prisoners are treated with contumely, and their skirts are docked as in the Biblical narrative. —  The Creed of the Old South 1865-1915
  • His body was treated with contumely, and his head affixed to a post of the palisades of the village. —  Canada
  • As it may therefore be easily seen, these two things--a good name and honor--differ as much as a sign differs from the thing signified The Eighth Commandment protects every man's honor; it condemns contumely which is an attack upon that honor. —  Explanation of Catholic Morals A Concise, Reasoned, and Popular Exposition of Catholic Morals
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Roget's II Roget's II: The New Thesaurus

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Roget's II: The New Thesaurus, Third Edition by the Editors of the American Heritage® Dictionary. Copyright © 2003, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Etymologies (2)

Toggle American Heritage etymologies American Heritage Dictionary (1)

  1. Middle English contumelie, from Old French, from Latin contumēlia; akin to contumāx, insolent.

Toggle Century etymologies Century Dictionary (1)

  1. from Middle English contumelie, from Old French contumelie = Spanish Portuguese Italian contumelia, from Latin contumelia, abuse, insult, reproach; origin uncertain; prob. connected with contumax: see contumacious.
 

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/ˈkɑntjuməli/
by American Heritage

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