contumely

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con·tu·me·ly

(kŏn′to͞o-mə-lē, -tyo͞o-, -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.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

contumely

(ˈkɒntjʊmɪlɪ)

n, pl -lies

1. scornful or insulting language or behaviour

2. a humiliating or scornful insult

[C14: from Latin contumēlia invective, from tumēre to swell, as with wrath]

contumelious adj

ˌcontuˈmeliously adv

ˌcontuˈmeliousness n

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

con•tu•me•ly

(ˈkɒn tʊ mə li, -tyʊ-; kənˈtu mə li, -ˈtyu-)

n., pl. -lies.

1. insulting display of contempt in words or actions; contemptuous or humiliating treatment.

2. a humiliating insult.

[1350–1400; Middle English (< Anglo-French) < Latin contumēlia, perhaps akin to contumāx (see contumacious)]

con`tu•me′li•ous (-ˈmi li əs) adj.

con`tu•me′li•ous•ly, adv.

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

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Noun

contumely - a rude expression intended to offend or hurt; "when a student made a stupid mistake he spared them no abuse"; "they yelled insults at the visiting team"

insult, revilement, vilification, abuse

discourtesy, disrespect - an expression of lack of respect

low blow - unscrupulous abuse

billingsgate, scurrility - foul-mouthed or obscene abuse

stinger, cut - a remark capable of wounding mentally; "the unkindest cut of all"

invective, vituperation, vitriol - abusive or venomous language used to express blame or censure or bitter deep-seated ill will

contumely

noun

1. An act that offends a person's sense of pride or dignity:

affront, despite, indignity, insult, offense, outrage, slight.

Idiom: slap in the face.

2. Harsh, often insulting language:

abuse, billingsgate, invective, obloquy, railing, revilement, reviling, scurrility, scurrilousness, vituperation.

Translations

contumelia

belediging grof hoon spot taal

contumely

[ˈkɒntjʊmɪlɪ] N (frm) → contumelia f

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

contumely

n no pl (form: = abuse) → Schmähen nt (geh); (= insult) → Schmähung f (geh)

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007