contumely means offensive and abusive language or behaviour; scorn, insult. It carries an Arena rating of 1730, earned across 14 head-to-head judged battles.
Among words judged in Lexicurio's Arena, contumely ranks #467 of 17,132 for Most Betrayed by Its Sound, #2,525 of 17,127 for Words That Escaped Their Books, #2,643 of 17,131 for Scariest Words, #2,904 of 17,143 for Best Fossil-Poetry Words.
contumely is pronounced /ˈkɒnt͡ʃuːməli/.
Why “contumely” is a great word
Insolent or scornfully abusive language or treatment that carries the sting of haughty contempt, from Old French *contumelie*, from Latin *contumēlia* ('insult, reproach'), perhaps from *com-* (intensive prefix) + *tumeō* ('I swell'). Unlike invective, which is vehement denunciation, or disrespect, which is a broad failure of regard, contumely is the specific, arrogant scorn of one who deems the target beneath consideration. It is the curled lip of a magistrate addressing a vagrant, the coldly dismissive critique meant to annihilate, the public rebuke designed to strip dignity—a cruelty that derives its power from the assumption of an unassailable height, the linguistic act of looking down while administering a blow.
Etymology
From Old French contumelie, from Latin contumēlia (“insult”), perhaps from com- + tumeō (“swell”).
noun
- Offensive and abusive language or behaviour; scorn, insult.e.g.“For who would beare the Whips and Scornes of time, / The Oppressors wrong, the poore mans Contumely, [...]” — c. 1599–1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggar
Definitions & examples from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 3.0).
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