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contumely - 8 dictionary results
con⋅tu⋅me⋅ly
[kon-too-muh-lee, -tyoo-; kuh
n-too-muh-lee, -tyoo-; kon-tuhm-lee, -tyoom, -chuhm] 
–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
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
[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.
1. abuse, scorn, disdain, rudeness.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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|
Link To contumely
| con·tu·me·ly (kŏn'tōō-mə-lē, -tyōō-, -təm-lē) n. pl. con·tu·me·lies
[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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Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
| Main Entry: | contumely1 |
| Part of Speech: | n |
| Definition: | rude treatment; insolence |
| Etymology: | Latin contumelia 'abuse, insult' |
| Usage: | pl. contumelies |
| Main Entry: | contumely2 |
| Part of Speech: | n |
| Definition: | a rude and hurtful expression; insult |
| Etymology: | Latin contumelia 'abuse, insult' |
| Usage: | pl. contumelies |
| Main Entry: | contumely3 |
| Part of Speech: | n |
| Definition: | disgrace from another's rudeness; humiliation |
| Etymology: | Latin contumelia 'abuse, insult' |
| Main Entry: | contumely |
| Part of Speech: | v |
| Definition: | to insult or treat rudely |
| Etymology: | Latin contumelia 'abuse, insult' |
| Usage: | transitive |
Contumely
Con"tu*me*ly\, n. [L. contumelia, prob. akin to contemnere to despise: cf. OF. contumelie. Cf. Contumacy.] Rudeness compounded of haughtiness and contempt; scornful insolence; despiteful treatment; disdain; contemptuousness in act or speech; disgrace. The oppressor's wrong, the proud man's contumely. --Shak. Nothing aggravates tyranny so much as contumely. --Burke.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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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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