contumelious

- 4 dictionary results

–noun,plural-lies.

insulting display of contempt in words or actions; contemptuous or humiliating treatment.

a humiliating insult.

Origin:
1350–1400; ME contumelie (< AF) < L contumēlia, perh. akin to contumāx (see contumacy), though formation and sense development are unclear

—Related forms

con·tu·me·li·ous

[kon-too-mee-lee-uh

s, -tyoo-]

, adjective

con·tu·me·li·ous·ly, adverb

con·tu·me·li·ous·ness, noun

—Synonyms
1. abuse, scorn, disdain, rudeness.

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2010.
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Link To contumelious

World English Dictionary

contumely (ˈkɒntjʊmɪlɪ)

—n , pl -lies
1.	scornful or insulting language or behaviour
2.	a humiliating or scornful insult

[C14: from Latin contumēlia invective, from tumēre to swell, as with wrath]

contumelious

—*adj*

contu'meliously

—*adv*

contu'meliousness

—n

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Word Origin & History

contumely

late 14c., from L. contumelia "a reproach, insult," probably from contumax "haughty, stubborn," from com- intensive prefix + tumere "to swell up" (see thigh).

contumelious

late 15c., from Fr. contumélieus, from L. contumeliosus, from contumelia (see contumely).

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contumelious

con·tu·me·ly