Con-tĕmpt', n.

(84), n. [Lat. contemptus, from contemnere. See CONTEMN.] 1. The act of contemning or despising; the act of treating as mean, vile, and worthless; disdain. For, the contempt of life and pleasure seems To argue in thee something more sublime And excellent than what thy mind contemns. Milton. Nothing, says Longinus, can be great, the contempt of which is great. Addison. 2. The state of being despised. You would have sold your king to slaughter, His subjects to oppression and contempt. Shak. 3. (Law.) Disobedience of the rules, orders, or process of a court of justice, or of the 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. Syn.—Disdain; scorn; derision; mockery; contumely; neglect; disregard; slight.