CONTEMPT, n. L. See Contemn.

1. The act of despising the act of viewing or considering and treating as mean, vile and worthless disdain hatred of what is mean or deemed vile. This word is one of the strongest expressions of a mean opinion which the language affords.

Nothing, says Longinus, can be great, the contempt of which is great.

2. The state of being despised whence in a scriptural sense, shame, disgrace.

Some shall awake to everlasting contempt. Daniel 7 .

3. In law, disobedience of the rules and orders of a court, which is a punishable offense.