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.