All 7 Uses
contempt
in
A Bend in the River
(Edited)
- I remembered the look of contempt and irritation Indar had given me.
p. 19.9 *contempt = lack of respect
- Familiarity of this kind with so many women had bred something like contempt for what they offered; and at the same time, like many men who use brothels alone, I had grown to think of myself as feeble, critically disadvantaged.
p. 174.9
- What was common to these people was their nervousness and contempt—contempt for me, contempt for the country.
p. 259.6
- What was common to these people was their nervousness and contempt—contempt for me, contempt for the country.
p. 259.6
- What was common to these people was their nervousness and contempt—contempt for me, contempt for the country.
p. 259.6
- I was half on their side; I envied them the contempt that it was so easy for them to feel.
p. 259.6
- Indifferent to notice, indifferent to compassion or contempt, those faces were yet not vacant or passive or resigned.
p. 269.4
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."
- (3) (meaning too rare to warrant focus)