Disdain | Webster's Dictionary (1865)

Dis-dāin', v. t.

verbtransitive

v. t. [imp. & p. p. DISDAINED; p. pr. & vb. n. DISDAINING.] [O. Fr. desdaigner, Fr. dédaigner, Pr. desdegnar, Sp. desdeñar, Pg. desdenhar, It. disdegnare, sdegnare, from Lat. prefix dis and dignari, to deem worthy. See DEIGN.]

Sense 1. To think unworthy; to deem unsuitable or unbecoming.

Disdaining . . . that any should bear the armor of the best knight living. Sidney.

Sense 2. To reject as unworthy of one's self, or as not deserving one's notice; to look with scorn upon; to contemn.

'Tis great, 'tis manly to disdain disguise. Young.

Synonyms— To contemn; despise; scorn. See CONTEMN.

Dis-dāin', v. i.

verbintransitive

v. i. To be filled with scorn; to feel contemptuous anger.

And when the chief priests and scribes saw the marvels that he did . . . they disdained. Genevan Test.

Dis-dāin′, n.

noun

n. [O. Fr. desdain, Fr. dédain, Pr. desdeing, desdenh, Sp. desdeño, desdén, Pg. desdém, It. disdegno. See supra.]

Sense 1. A feeling of contempt and aversion or abhorrence; the regarding any thing as beneath one; scorn.

How my soul is moved with just disdain! Pope.

Sense 2. That which is worthy to be disdained or regarded with contempt and aversion. [Obs.]

Most loathsome, filthy, foul, and full of vile disdain. Spenser.

Synonyms— Haughtiness; scorn; contempt; arrogance; pride. See HAUGHTINESS.