All 12 Uses of
contempt
in
Great Expectations
- This gave me power to keep them back and to look at her: so, she gave a contemptuous toss—but with a sense, I thought, of having made too sure that I was so wounded—and left me.†
p. 64.4contemptuous = showing a lack of respect
- She laughed contemptuously, pushed me out, and locked the gate upon me.†
p. 66.9contemptuously = with disrespect
- ...they all looked at me with the utmost contempt...
p. 85.8 *contempt = lack of respect
- But I never thought there was anything low and small in my keeping away from Joe, because I knew she would be contemptuous of him.†
p. 257.9contemptuous = showing a lack of respect
- Her contempt for me was so strong, that it became infectious, and I caught it.†
p. 62.6
- There was an expression of contempt on his face, and he bit the side of a great forefinger as he watched the group of faces.†
p. 141.8
- Mrs. Pocket they held in contempt; but they allowed the poor soul to have been heavily disappointed in life, because that shed a feeble reflected light upon themselves.†
p. 214.5
- I had little objection to his being seen by Herbert or his father, for both of whom I had a respect; but I had the sharpest sensitiveness as to his being seen by Drummle, whom I held in contempt.†
p. 230.1
- A spirit of contempt for the fawners and plotters.†
p. 284.6
- The bill paid, and the waiter remembered, and the ostler not forgotten, and the chambermaid taken into consideration,—in a word, the whole house bribed into a state of contempt and animosity, and Estella's purse much lightened,—we got into our post-coach and drove away.†
p. 285.4
- "It is quite true," she replied, referring to him with the indifference of utter contempt.†
p. 384.8
- "A Custum 'Us officer knows what to do with his Buttons," said the Jack, repeating the obnoxious word with the greatest contempt, "when they comes betwixt him and his own light.†
p. 469.9
Definitions:
-
(1)
(contempt as in: feels contempt towards her) lack of respect for someone or something thought inferior -- often accompanied by a feeling of dislike or disgustA famous saying, "familiarity breeds contempt" comes from Aesop's fable, "The Fox and the Lion". (6th century BC)
When first the Fox saw the Lion he was terribly frightened, and ran away and hid himself in the wood. Next time however he came near the King of Beasts he stopped at a safe distance and watched him pass by. The third time they came near one another the Fox went straight up to the Lion and passed the time of day with him, asking him how his family were, and when he should have the pleasure of seeing him again; then turning his tail, he parted from the Lion without much ceremony.
The moral is traditionally, "Familiarity breeds contempt"; though an alternative moral is "Acquaintance softens prejudices." -
(2)
(contempt as in: held in contempt of court) the crime of willful disobedience to or disrespect for the authority of a court or legislative bodyFormally, this is called "contempt of court," but it is often shortened as just "contempt."