con·tempt   (kən-těmpt')    n.   The feeling or attitude of regarding someone or something as inferior, base, or worthless; scorn. The state of being despised or dishonored; disgrace. Open disrespect or willful disobedience of the authority of a court of law or legislative body. [Middle English, from Latin contemptus, past participle of contemnere, to despise; see contemn.]

Contempt

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.

Note: 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.

contempt 

Main Entry: con·tempt
Pronunciation: k&n-'tempt
Function: noun
1 : willful disobedience or open disrespect of the orders, authority, or dignity of a court or judge acting in a judicial capacity by disruptive language or conduct or by failure to obey the court's orders; also : the offense of contempt called also contempt of court

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civil contempt
: contempt that consists of disobedience to a court order in favor of the opposing party
NOTE: The sanctions for civil contempt end upon compliance with the order.

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constructive contempt
: INDIRECT CONTEMPT in this entry

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criminal contempt
: contempt consisting of conduct that disrupts or opposes the proceedings or power of the court
NOTE: The sanctions for criminal contempt are designed to punish as well as to coerce compliance.

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direct contempt
: contempt committed in the presence of the court or in a location close enough to disrupt the court's proceedings

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in·di·rect contempt
: contempt (as disobedience of a court order) that occurs outside of the presence of the court
2 : willful disobedience to a lawful order of or willful obstruction of a legislative body in the course of exercising its powers <contempt of Congress>—in contempt : in the state of having been found guilty of contempt in contempt —A. M. Dershowitz>

contempt

see familiarity breeds contempt.