contempt (kontempt)

[ O, what a deal of scorn looks beautiful In the contempt and anger of his lip! Shak ., T. N., iii. 1. Those who survey only one half of his [Bacon's] character may speak of him with unmixed admiration, or with unmixed contempt . Macaulay , Lord Bacon. 2. The state of being despised; shame; disgrace. Remove from me reproach and contempt . Ps. cxix. 22. 3. In law, disobedience to, or open disrespect of, the rules, orders, or proce of a court or of a legislative a embly, or a disturbance or interruption of its proceedings: called in full, when used in relation to judicial authority, con tempt of court. Contempts committed out of court are punishable by order to show cause or attachment, on the return of which the offender may be fined or imprisoned; and contempts done before the court or judge, termed contempts in immediate view and presence, may be punished or repre ed in a summary way, by immediate commitment to prison or by fine. The power of enforcing their proce , and of vindicating their authority against open obstruction or defiance, is incident to all superior courts. Both strangers and members are now severely punished for contempts of the House and its jurisdiction. Brougham. contemptfult (kon-tempt'fül), a. [ contempt +-ful, 1.] Full of contempt; despicable; con- temptible; disgraceful. The stage and actors are not so contemptful As every innovating puritan Would have the world imagine. IMG:content-1155.png:[blocks in formation] His own part in the enterprise was by no means con- temptible . A. Dobson, Int. to Steele, p. xxx. 3. Held in contempt; despised; neglected. Till length of years And sedentary numne craze my limbs To a contemptible old age obscure. IMG:content-1156.png:[blocks in formation] =Syn. 1. Contemptible , Despicable , Paltry , Pitiful , abject, base, worthle , sorry, low. Contemptible is unworthy of notice, deserving of scorn, for littlene or meanne ; it is generally not so strong as despicable , which always involves the idea of great basene : as, a contemptible trick; despicable treachery. Paltry and pitiful are ap- plied to things which from their insignificance hardly de- serve to be considered at all: as, a paltry excuse; a sum of money pitifully small. In pitiful , the pity seems to apply to the one foolish enough to offer, etc., the pitiful thing. Pitiful is often applied to persons. What is pal- try is of no consequence; what is pitiful is absurdly un- equal to what it should be. See pitiful . All sublunary joys and sorrows, all interests which know a period, fade into the most contemptible insignificance. R. Hall , Death of Prince Charlotte. You found the Whig party... decent, at least in pro- fe ion; left it despicable in utter shamele ne . W. Phillips , Speeches, p. 260. Turn your forces from this paltry siege, And stir them up against a mightier task. IMG:content-1157.png:[blocks in formation] 3t. Worthy of contempt; contemptible. And, to declare a contemptuouse chaunge from religion to supers tic i on againe, the prestes had sodainly set up all the aulters and ymages in the cathedrall churche. Questions of Profitable and Pleasant Concern ings. =Syn. Disdainful, supercilious, cavalier, contumelious. contemptuously (kon-temp'tu-us-li), adv . In a contemptuous manner; with scorn or dis- dain; despitefully. The apostles and most eminent Christians were poor, and used contemptuously . Jer. Taylor , Holy Living. The surest way to make a man contemptible is to treat him contemptuously . B. Taylor , Lands of the Saracen, p. 104. One of a despised cla contemptuously termed "the great unwashed." H. Spencer , Social Statics, p. 252. contemptuousne (kon-temp'tū-us-nes), n . Disposition to contempt; expre ion of con- tempt; insolence; scornfulne ; contumelious- ne ; disdain. contend (kon-tend'), v. [= OF. con tendre Sp. Pg. contender = It. contend ere , contend, contend ere , stretch out, extend, strive after, contend, tendere , stretch: see tend , and cf. attend , extend, intend, subtend. Hence contents, contention.] I. in trans. 1. To strive; struggle in opposition or emulation: used absolutely, or with against or with . Distre not the Moabites, neither contend with them in battle. Deut. ii. 9. For never two such kingdoms did contend Without much fall of blood. • In ambitious Contend against thy valour. Shak ., Hen. V., i. 2. strength I did Shak., Cor., iv. 5. IMG:content-1158.png:[blocks in formation] 2. To endeavor; use earnest efforts, as for the purpose of obtaining, defending, preserving, etc.: usually with for before the object striven after. Cicero him selfe doth contend , in two sondrie places, to expre e one matter with diuerse wordes. Ascham, The Scholemaster, p. 103. Beloved,... contend for the faith which was once de- livered unto the saints. Jude 3. All that I contend for is, that I am not obliged to set out with a definition of what love is. Sterne , Tristram Shandy, vi. 37. IMG:content-1159.png:[blocks in formation] The younger perswaded the souldiers that he was the elder, and both contended which should die. Purchas , Pilgrimage, p. 321. II. trans. 1. To dispute; contest. [Rare.] When Carthage shall contend the world with Rome. Dryden, Æneid. And on the green contend the wrestler's prize. Dryden, Æneid. 2. To a ert; affirm; maintain: as, I contend that the thing is impo ible. Edward III. [in urging his claim to the throne of France] admitted that the French prince , who was his mother, could not succeed, but he contended that he him- self, as her son, was entitled to succeed his maternal grand- father. Maine , Early Law and Custom, p. 93. With conflict of contending hopes and fears. Cowper, The Task, i. 668, 2. Clashing; opposing; conflicting; rival: as, contending claims or interests. con ten dre (kon-ten'dres), n. [ contender + -e .] A female contender. [Rare.] contenement (kon-ten'ē-ment), n. tenement.] In law , that which is connected with a tenement or thing holden, as a certain portion of land adjacent to a dwelling nece ary to its reputable enjoyment. content1 (kon-tent'), a. and n. [ content , F. content = Sp. Pg. It. contento , a . Literally, held or contained within limits; hence, having the desires limited to present enjoyments; satisfied; free from tendency to repine or object; willing; contented; resigned. Having food and raiment, let us be therewith content . 1 Tim. vi. 8. If ye'll be content wi' me, I'll do for you what man can dee. He is content to be Auditor, where he only can speake, and content to goe away, and thinke himselfe instructed. Bp. Earle, Micro-cosmographie, A Modest Man. Content indeed to sojourn while he must Below the skies, but having there his home. Content, non-content, or not content, words by which a ent and di ent are expre ed in the British House of Lords, answering to the aye and no used in the House of Commons. Among the Whigs there was some unwillingne to con- sent to a change. But Devons hire and Portland de- clared themselves content : their authority prevailed; and the alteration was made. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., xx. = Syn. Content , Satisfied . See contentment. Truth says, of old the art of making plays Was to content the people. B. Jonson, Prol. to Epicene. And no le would content some of them [his disciples], than being his highest Favourites and Ministers of State. Stilling fleet , Sermons, I. xii. 2. Reflexively, to be satisfied. Do not content yourself with obscure and confused ideas, wien clearer are to be attained. Watts , Logic. The scientific school, as such, contents itself with crit i- cism, and makes no affirmation in respect of religion. J. R. Seeley, Nat. Religion, p. 69. content2 (kon-tent'), n. [ contente , con- tent, contentment, con tenter , content: see com- tent1 , v.] 1. That state of mind which results from satisfaction with present conditions; that degree of satisfaction which holds the mind in peace, excluding complaint, impatience, or fur- ther desire; contentment. 'Tis better to be lowly born, And range with humble livers in content , Than to be perk'd up in a glistering grief, And wear a golden sorrow. Ask thou this heart for monument, And mine shall be a large content . IMG:content-1160.png:[blocks in formation] contendent (kon-ten'dent), n. [= F. conten- dant = Sp. contendiente = Pg. It. contendente , L. contenden ( t- )s, ppr. of contend ere , contend: see contend .] An antagonist or opposer; a con- testant. contender (kon-ten'der), n. One who contends; a combatant; a disputer; a wrangler. Those who see least into things, are usually the fiercest contenders about them. Stilling fleet , Sermons, II. vi. contending (kon-ten'ding), p . a. [Ppr. of con- tend, v .] 1. Striving; struggling in opposition; debating. Their praise is still the style is excellent; The sense, they humbly take upon content. 3. That which is the condition of contentment; desire; wish. So will I In England work your grace's full content . Shak ., 2 Hen. VI., i. 3. The Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia: The Century dictionary content Heart's content, full or complete satisfaction. I wish your ladyship all heart's content. Shak., M. of V., iii. 4. The first thing we did on boarding Privateer was to get such things as we could to gratifie our Indian Guides, for we were resolved to reward them to their hearts content. Dampier, Voyages, I. 23. content2 (kon'tent or kon-tent'), n. [L. con tent us, pp., in lit. sense, contained: see content1, a.] 1. That which is contained; the thing or things held, included, or comprehended within a limit or limits: usually in the plural: as, the contents of a cask or a bale, of a room or a ship, of a book or a document. I have a letter from her, Of such contents as you will wonder at. Shak., M. W. of W., iv. 6. The finite spirit itself, with all its content , becomes one of the contingent unconnected facts of experience. Adams on , Philos. of Kant, p. 6. 2. In geom., the area or space included within certain limits. [In this and the next sense most frequently singular.] The geometrical content of all the lands of a kingdom. Graunt, Obs. on Bills of Mortality. 3. In logic, the sum of the attributes or notions which constitute the meaning and are expre ed in the definition of a given conception: thus, animal, rational, etc., form the content of the conception man. The content of cognition is the matter of knowledge, that which comes from without the mind. The basis and content of all experience is feeling. G. H. Lewes , Probs. of Life and Mind, II. ii. § 12. The attempt [to discriminate the objective from the subjective elements] would only be po ible on the ground that we could, at any time and in any way, disengage Thought from its content . J. Fiske , Cosmic Philos., I. 50. IMG:content-1162.png:[blocks in formation] 1225 contented (kon-ten'ted), p. a. [Pp. of content1, v.] 1. Po e ing or characterized by contentment; satisfied with present conditions; not given to complaining or to a desire for anything further or different; satisfied: as, a contented man; a person of a contented disposition. Desiring this man's art, and that man's scope, With what I most enjoy contented least. Shak ., Sonnets, xxix. conterminant In contentious suits it is difficult to draw the line be- Stubbs , Const. Hist., § 87. resigned; pa ive. This thy family, for which our Lord Jesus Christ was contented to be betrayed, and to suffer death upon the cro . Book of Common Prayer , Collect for Good Friday. Men are contented to be laughed at for their wit, but not for their folly. Swift , Thoughts on Various Subjects. A contented acquiescence in the chronic absence of belief is as little creditable to the intellect as to the heart. H. N. Oxenham , Short Studies, p. 275. contentedly (kon-ten'ted-li), adv . In a contented manner; quietly; without concern. Pa ed the hours contentedly with chat. Drayton, Poets and Poesy. contentedne (kon-ten'ted-nes), n. The state of being contented; satisfaction of mind with any condition or event. Miracles. met with a pa ive willingne , a content edne in the patient to receive and believe them. Hammond, Works, IV. 622. Contentious argument, an argument which is framed only to deceive or to put down an opponent, not to advance truth. Syn. 1 and 2. Pugnacious, disputatious, captious, wrangling, litigious, factious. contentiously (kon-ten's hus-li), adv. In a contentious manner; quarrelsomely; perversely; with wrangling. The justices were to apprehend and take all such as did contentiously and tumultuously. Strype, Memorials, Edw. VI., an. 1548. contentiousne (kon-ten's hus-nes), n . A disposition to wrangle or contend; pronene to strife; perversene ; quarrelsomene . Contentiousne in a feast of charity is more scandal than any posture. G. Herbert, Country Parson, xxii. content i vet (kon-ten'tiv), a . [ content1 + -ive; = F. content if , etc.] Producing or giving content. contentfult (kon-tent'ful), a. [ content1 , n., + perpetual joviality. -ful, 1.] Full of contentment. Barrow, Works, III. vi. contention (kon-ten's hon), n. [ contention = cion, tencion = Pg. contenção = It. contenzione , n- ), contend ere , pp. content us , con- tend: see contend .] 1. A violent effort to ob- tain something, or to resist physical force, whether an a ault or bodily bodily opposition; opposition; phys i phys i- cal contest; struggle; strife. But when your troubled country called you forth, Your flaming courage and your matchle worth To fierce contention gave a prosperous end. Waller, To my Lord Protector. 2. Strife in words or debate; wrangling; an- gry contest; quarrel; controversy; litigation. Prov. xviii. 6. Avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and conten tions , and strivings about the law. Tit. iii. 9. 3. Strife or endeavor to excel; competition; emulation. No quarrel, but a slight contention . Shak., 3 Hen. VI., i. 2. 5. In the customs, a paper delivered to the searcher by the master of a ve el before she is cleared outward, describing the ve el's designation and detailing the goods shipped, with other particulars. This content has to be compared with the cockets and the indorsements 4t. Effort; struggle; vehement endeavor. and clearances thereon. - Linear content or contents, length along a straight, curved, or broken line. Solid content or contents, the number of solid units contained in a space, as of cubic inches, feet, yards, etc.; volume. Superficial content or contents the measure of a surface in square measure; area. - Table of contents, a statement or summary of all the matters treated in a book, arranged in the order of succe ion, and (generally) prefixed to it.