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.

The state of being despised; whence in a scriptural sense, shame. Some shall awake to everlasting contempt. Daniel 12:2.

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