Contempt

Contempt

Contempt is a secondary emotion (not among the original six emotions) and is a mix of the primary emotions disgust and anger. The word originated in 1393, from the Latin word contemptus meaning "scorn." It is the past participle of contemnere and from com- intens. prefix + temnere "to slight, scorn." The origin is uncertain. Contemptuous appeared in 1529.

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Famous quotes containing the word contempt:

    Grow your tree of falsehood from a small grain of truth.
    Do not follow those who lie in contempt of reality.
    Let your lie be even more logical than the truth itself,
    So the weary travelers may find repose.
    Czeslaw Milosz (b. 1911)

    His friends he loved. His direst earthly foes—
    Cats—I believe he did but feign to hate.
    My hand will miss the insinuated nose,
    Mine eyes the tail that wagg’d contempt at Fate.
    Sir William Watson (1858–1935)

    So different are the colours of life, as we look forward to the future, or backward to the past; and so different the opinions and sentiments which this contrariety of appearance naturally produces, that the conversation of the old and young ends generally with contempt or pity on either side.
    Samuel Johnson (1709–1784)