Contempt \Con*tempt"\ (?; 215), n. [L. contemptus, fr. contemnere: cf. OF. contempt. See Contemn.]

1. The act of contemning or despising; the feeling with which one regards that which is esteemed mean, vile, or worthless; disdain; scorn.

Criminal contempt of public feeling. --Macaulay.

Nothing, says Longinus, can be great, the contempt of which is great. --Addison.

2. The state of being despised; disgrace; shame.

Contempt and begarry hangs upon thy back. --Shak.

3. An act or expression denoting contempt.

Little insults and contempts. --Spectator.

The contempt and anger of his lip. --Shak.

4. (Law) Disobedience of the rules, orders, or process of a court of justice, or of 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.

Note: Contempt is in some jurisdictions extended so as to include publications reflecting injuriously on a court of justice, or commenting unfairly on pending proceedings; in other jurisdictions the courts are prohibited by statute or by the constitution from thus exercising this process.

Syn: Disdain; scorn; derision; mockery; contumely; neglect; disregard; slight.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)