contemno Latin · revision 6288

+ {{infobox|confidence=uncertain|formation=derivation|attested=Plautus}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [kɔnˈtɛm.noː]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [konˈtɛm.no]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''contemnō''' (present infinitive contemnere, perfect active contempsī or contemsī, supine contemptum or contemtum); third conjugation^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The origin is uncertain.^(Wiktionary) It is formally [[con-]] and [[temnō]] “to despise”, but de Vaan argues that ⟨temnō⟩ is a back-formation from ⟨contemnō⟩, which is attested much earlier.^(Wiktionary)^(OLD 2012) Wiktionary derives it from a nasal-infix verb from [[ine-pro|*temh₁-|t=to cut]].^(Wiktionary) Lewis and Short note the spelling ⟨contempnō⟩.^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The OLD's first citations are from Plautus, of despising.^(OLD 2012) Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It meant to regard with contempt, despise, look down on, as in Plautus and Cicero's “do not think these things trifling”, also oneself, and to scorn or insult, as in Terence.^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016) It meant to treat as unimportant, disregard, as in Plautus, poetically of things to defy, as in Lucretius, and to keep away from, as in Virgil.^(OLD 2012) Döderlein says one ''contemnit'' great and fearful things such as danger and death, one [[dēspiciō|alt=dēspicit]] what is beneath one, and one [[spernō|alt=spernit]] what should be rejected.^(Döderlein 1874)

+

+ In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant to despise, disdain, defy, disregard.^(Stelten 1995) [[en|contemn]] came in the mid-15th century, and [[en|contempt]] from its noun ''contemptus'' in the late 14th century.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of despising.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 190–159 BC – Terence uses it of insulting.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of thinking trifling.^(Gaffiot 2016)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * late 14th century – English ''contempt'' is recorded.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To [[m|en|despise]], look down on.^(OLD 2012)

+ # To scorn, insult.^(OLD 2012)

+ # To disregard; to defy.^(OLD 2012)

+ # To keep away from.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[contemnificus]]

+ * [[contemptibilis]]

+ * [[contemptim]]

+ * [[contemptiō]]

+ * [[contemptor]]

+ * [[contemptrīx]]

+ * [[contemptus]]

+ * [[contumāx]]

+ * [[contumēlia]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[temnō]]

+ * [[dēspiciō]]

+ * [[spernō]]

+ * [[en|contempt]]

+ * [[en|contemn]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}