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contumelious

 - 3 dictionary results

con⋅tu⋅me⋅ly

  [kon-too-muh-lee, -tyoo-; kuhn-too-muh-lee, -tyoo-; kon-tuhm-lee, -tyoom, -chuhm]
Use contumelious in a Sentence
–noun, plural -lies.
1. insulting display of contempt in words or actions; contemptuous or humiliating treatment.
2. 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-uhs, -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. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To contumelious
con·tu·me·ly   (kŏn'tōō-mə-lē, -tyōō-, -təm-lē)   
n.   pl. con·tu·me·lies

  1. Rudeness or contempt arising from arrogance; insolence.

  2. An insolent or arrogant remark or act.


[Middle English contumelie, from Old French, from Latin contumēlia; akin to contumāx, insolent.]
con'tu·me'li·ous (kŏn'tə-mē'lē-əs) adj., con'tu·me'li·ous·ly adv.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

contumely 
c.1386, from L. contumelia "a reproach, insult," probably from contumax "haughty, stubborn," from com- intensive prefix + tumere "to swell up" (see thigh).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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