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:

    Professors of literature, who for the most part are genteel but mediocre men, can make but a poor defense of their profession, and the professors of science, who are frequently men of great intelligence but of limited interests and education, feel a politely disguised contempt for it; and thus the study of one of the most pervasive and powerful influences on human life is traduced and neglected.
    Yvor Winters (1900–1968)

    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)

    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)