contumely

contumely
contumely (n.) late 14c., from O.Fr. contumelie, from L. contumelia "a reproach, insult," probably related to contumax "haughty, stubborn," from com-, intensive prefix (see COM- (Cf. com-)), + tumere "to swell up" (see THIGH (Cf. thigh)).
The unhappy man left his country forever. The howl of contumely followed him across the sea, up the Rhine, over the Alps; it gradually waxed fainter; it died away; those who had raised it began to ask each other, what, after all, was the matter about which they had been so clamorous, and wished to invite back the criminal whom they had just chased from them. [Thomas Babington Macaulay, "Lord Byron," 1877]

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

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  • 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;… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • contumely — I noun abuse, affront, arrogance, aspersion, berating, castigation, contempt, contemptuous treatment, contemptuousness, contumelia, derision, despite, despiteful treatment, discourtesy, disdain, disdainfulness, dishonor, disrespect, effrontery,… …   Law dictionary

  • contumely — ► NOUN (pl. contumelies) archaic ▪ insolent or insulting language or treatment. DERIVATIVES contumelious adjective. ORIGIN Latin contumelia, perhaps from tumere to swell …   English terms dictionary

  • contumely — [kän′to͞o mə lē, kän′tyo͞omə lē; kän′to͞om lē, kän′tyo͞omlē; kən too′mə lē, kəntyoo′mə lē] n. pl. contumelies [ME contumelie < OFr < L contumelia, a reproach, abuse; prob. akin to CONTUMACY] 1. haughty and contemptuous rudeness; insulting… …   English World dictionary

  • contumely — [14] The idea underlying contumely ‘insolence’ is ‘swelling up’. It comes, via Old French contumelie, from Latin contumēlia ‘insult, reproach’, a compound noun formed from the intensive prefix com and (probably) tumēre ‘swell’ (source of English… …   The Hutchinson dictionary of word origins

  • contumely — [14] The idea underlying contumely ‘insolence’ is ‘swelling up’. It comes, via Old French contumelie, from Latin contumēlia ‘insult, reproach’, a compound noun formed from the intensive prefix com and (probably) tumēre ‘swell’ (source of English… …   Word origins

  • contumely — noun (plural lies) Etymology: Middle English contumelie, from Middle French, from Latin contumelia Date: 14th century harsh language or treatment arising from haughtiness and contempt; also an instance of such language or treatment …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • contumely — contumelious /kon tooh mee lee euhs, tyooh /, adj. contumeliously, adv. contumeliousness, n. /kon too meuh lee, tyoo ; keuhn tooh meuh lee, tyooh ; kon teuhm lee, tyoohm, cheuhm/, n., pl. contumelies. 1. insulting display of contempt in words or… …   Universalium

  • contumely — noun /ˈkɒntjuːm(ə)li/ Rude language or behaviour; scorn, insult. For who would bear the whips and scorns of time …   Wiktionary

  • contumely — Synonyms and related words: abuse, affront, airs, animadversion, arrogance, aspersion, assailing, assault, assurance, atrocity, attack, audacity, berating, billingsgate, bitter words, blackening, boldness, brickbat, bumptiousness, calumny,… …   Moby Thesaurus

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