v. Also 6 contempne, 6–7 contemne (pa. pple. 6 contempt). [a. OF. contemner, contempner (cited 1453 in Godef.), ad. L. contem(p)n-ĕre, f. con- intensive + temnĕre to slight, scorn, disdain, despise: cf. Gr. τέμνειν to judge. Now chiefly a literary word.]
1. trans. To treat as of small value, treat or view with contempt; to despise, disdain, scorn, slight.
1450–1530. Myrr. our Ladye, p. xlviii. They that do contempne me and forgette my charyte they do this to me.
1526. Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 92. Who so contempneth you contempneth me.
1591. Shaks., Two Gent., II. iv. 129. I haue done pennance for contemning Loue.
1651. Hobbes, Leviath., I. vi. 24. Those things which we neither Desire, nor Hate, we are said to Contemne.
1681. Dryden, Abs. & Achit., I. 381. Not that your Father’s mildness I contemn.
1777. Sheridan, Trip Scarb., II. i. I did not start at his addresses as when they came from one whom I contemned.
1876. Geo. Eliot, Dan. Der., IV. xxxiii. It lay in Deronda’s nature usually to contemn the feeble.
† b. Const. with inf. To scorn or disdain to do.
1609. Bible (Douay), Deut. xxi. 18. A stubbourne and froward sonne, that … contemneth to be obedient.
1622. Wither, Mistr. Philar. (1633), 738. Some … who do not contemne In his retyred walkes to visit him.
2. To treat (law, orders, etc.) with contemptuous disregard.
1573. Tusser, Husb. (1878), 195. His benefites if we forget, or do contemne his lawe.
1579. Spenser, Sheph. Cal., Nov., 48. Let not my small demaund be so contempt.
c. 1665. Mrs. Hutchinson, Mem. Col. Hutchinson (1846), 424. Mr. Cooper contemned my lords’ order, and would not obey it.
1762. Hume, Hist. Eng. (1806), III. xlvi. 667. This counsel is not to be contemned.
1818. Jas. Mill, Brit. India, II. V. ix. 689. They … contemned and violated the engagement of treaties.
absol. 1609. Bible (Douay), Bel & Dr., i. 12. They contemned, because they had made under the table a secrete entrance [Vulg. contemnebant autem, quia, etc.].
