All 5 Uses of
contempt
in
The Poisonwood Bible
- In Georgia I'd seen people angered by my father before, or intimidated, but not contemptuous.
Chpt 1 *contemptuous = showing a lack of respect
- I think he was well inclined toward stubbornness, and contemptuous of failure, long before his conscription into the war and the strange circumstances that discharged him from it.†
Chpt 2
- He was startled to see a white woman, and couldn't decide whether to be deferential or contemptuous, so he alternated.†
Chpt 5
- As much as she held me in contempt, she may never have had any real inkling of my true helplessness.†
Chpt 2
- Drawing nearer they would always stare at Anatole as contempt gave way to bald shock.†
Chpt 5
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."