- He contemns the people he has to work for.
- Arrogant critics contemn the general public’s taste in art.
- The court can take contempt of court action on a person who knowingly contemns its order.
Please correct the above.
Thanks.
Hello! Fathima, the correct spelling is CONDEMN.
Anglophile,
First I thought like you only.
But contemn and condemn are two different words.
‘contemn’ means ‘treat with contempt’.
‘condemn’ means ‘convict, doom’.
Thanks.
Allifathima, although one or two dictionaries still carry that definition and the word ‘contemn’ it certainly is not in common use, and would not be used in your sentences. It’s archaic.
He treats the people he has to work for with contempt.
Arrogant critics have/display contempt for the general public’s taste in art.
3. The court can order a ‘Contempt of Court’ action on a person who knowingly acts in a way which indicates contempt.
Fathima, yes, you are right. They are two different words. One of my dictionaries also cites this word. But I’m afraid it’s not found used in standard English. It seems to have sunk into oblivion. However, it sounds as though ‘contempt’ is suggestive of an indirect derivative of ‘contemn’ (due to resemblance). Let its etymology explain it.
Nevertheless, why go for this particular word while we have many synonyms like hate, dislike, detest, despise, abhor etc etc?