contumely
Definitions
from The Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia
- noun Insolently offensive or abusive speech; haughtiness and contempt expressed in words; overbearing or reviling language; contemptuousness; insolence.
- noun A contumelious statement or act; an exhibition of haughty contempt or insolence.
Examples
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That phrase was flung at them, I think, in contumely at one time, but, like many such phrases, it has been adopted.
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In recent days there has been a great deal of ill-informed comment about our Deputy Prime Minister’s penchant for the game of croquet; he has suffered obloquy and had contumely poured over him – and dried contumely is a devil to brush off one’s jacket.
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Bonus points for dragging much-neglected "contumely" out of retirement, but otherwise it's babbling-as-usual over at the Pod Works.
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“Sir,” he declared, “I do not desire nor will I tolerate your scurrilous contumely.”
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This grocer being a bachelor and not a man who looked upon the surface for beauty, had once made honourable offers for the hand of Berry, which Mrs Pipchin had, with contumely and scorn, rejected.
Note
The word 'contumely' comes from a Latin word meaning 'insult' or 'insolent'.
