definition of contemptuous and synonyms of contemptuous (French)
DESPICIOUS, ANTE (adj.)[mé-pri-zan, zan-t’]
1. Who shows contempt. A contemptuous tone.
• Contemptuous terms (MAIRET Soliman, IV, 4)
• Mme de Breil herself had left her contemptuous air for me (JJ ROUSS. Confess. III)
2. Who has contempt.
• I have something sad and proud in the mine; that makes most people believe that I am contemptuous, although I am not at all (LA ROCHEFOUC. Portr.)
• We become …. contemptuous and contemptuous (BOURD. Lent 1, Pens. De la mort, 18)
• The world is mocking, it is contemptuous, it is cruel (MASS. Prof. relig. 4)
CONDEMN (goes)[mé-pri-zé]
1. Hold in contempt.
• You despise Rome too much, and you should have more respect for a king who takes the place of your father (CORN. Nicom. III, 1)
• Michol, daughter of Saul, looking out the window, saw King David jumping and dancing; and she despised him in her heart (SACI Bible, Paralip. I, XV, 29)
• We have an obligation to those who warn of faults; because they mortify: they learn that one has been despised (PASC. Pens. XXV, 38)
• Do not be surprised if the same Ecclesiastes despises everything in us, even wisdom, and finds nothing better than to taste the fruit of his labor in peace (BOSSUET Duch. D’Orl.)
• Christians no longer know the holy fear that once seized upon at the sight of the sacrifice …. far from trembling in front of the altars, they despise Jesus Christ present (BOSSUET Louis de Bourbon.)
• It is in this same spirit that he often despised the noises of the vulgar (FLÉCH. Lamoignon.)
• You despise my tears! my cries are superfluous! (QUINAULT Pers. II, 6)
• Who despises Cotin does not esteem his king (BOILEAU Sat. IX.)
• His hands do not despise work (FÉN. Tel. XXII)
• It is still quite ordinary to despise those who despise us (LA BRUY. XI)
• I have enough pride to despise with sovereign contempt the speeches of those who do not know me (VOLT. Lett. Thieriot, 28 Jan. 1739)
• The foolish judgments and the foolish opinions of the vulgar will not make miserable a man who has learned to endure real misfortunes; and whoever despises the great may well despise the fools (VOLT. ib. 4 August 1728)
Fig. and as a joke.
• I am so well today, that I believe that I will take the party that they advise me, which is to despise my leg. [malade], and not to question her at any time (SEV. 1 July 1685)
Absolutely.
• Cliton: Shall we two say nothing? – Lise. No. – Cliton: How you despise! – Lise: I don’t have time to hear your nonsense (CORN. Suite du Ment. II, 6)
2. To trample underfoot, to transgress.
• Alas! this ungrateful people have despised your law (RAC. Esth. I, 4)
• Cruel, if, with my tears, contemptuous of power, You consent without difficulty not to see me again (RAC. Phèdre, V, 1)
• I can now appear to you unworthy of your affection; but your promise, why do you despise it? (STAËL Corinne, XV, I)
3. Not giving enough attention.
• Those who want everything to be despised, at the same time want to let everything run (BOSSUET States of Prayer, I, 10)
• We must not despise such details, which are the hidden source of the ruin of states, such as families (VOLT. Moeurs, 79)
4. Repel a lover, a suitor.
• [toi] For whom I have despised This mortal whom today fate has made your master (VOLT. Orph. II, 3)
5. Rise above the love or fear that we usually have for something.
• Whoever despises life is master of his own [d’Auguste] (CORN. Cinna, I, 2)
• Let us therefore allow him to despise all the states of this life, since finally, whatever side we look at, we always see death in the face, which covers all our best days with darkness (BOSSUET Duch. D. ‘Orl.)
• But, because by refusing the gifts of the world, one infallibly incurs his disgrace, not only to despise his property, but also to despise his hatred, and not to fear to displease him, that is the second maxim (BOSSUET 2nd sermon, Pentec . 1)
• When we can despise the charm of love, What enchantments can we fear? (QUINAULT Armide, II, 1)
• The frankness which reigns in this happy stay Makes the irons and the pride of the court scorn (VOLT. Scythes, I, 3)
• Do we want to have the right to despise the rich? let us begin by despising wealth; let’s change our mores (DUCLOS Consider. mores, 10)
6. Despise of, with an infinitive.
• You, men, children of God … if, more stupid and more insensitive than inanimate creatures, you despise to follow the laws that God himself has given you (BOSSUET 2nd sermon, Quinquagesime, 2)
7. Despise oneself, v. refl. Have contempt for yourself.
• We must not allow man to despise himself entirely, lest, believing with the ungodly that our life is only a game where chance reigns, he does not walk without rules and without conduct at will. his blind desires (BOSSUET Duch. d’Orl.)
• It is to despise oneself not to dare to appear what one is (MASS. Madam.)
Despise each other, have reciprocal contempt for each other. These two men despise each other, and they’re both right.
NOTE
Mme de Sévigné granted, according to the old rule, the present participle: I find you so full of reflections, so Stoic, so contemptuous of the things of this world and of life itself, Apr. 3, 1680.
HISTORICAL
XVIth century – Despise the offenses received (MONT. II, 115) – Nostre appetit misprise what is in hand (MONT. III, 3) – The opinions which the seniority has had of the man, are those which us despise, debase and annihilate the most (MONT. III, 32) – For this first time went despised and mocqué with eulx (AMYOT Lys. 10)
ETYMOLOGY
My … prefix, and snuff, estimate; prov. mesprezar, mensprezar, menesprezar; catal. menyspresar; esp. menospreciar; Harbor. menosprezar.
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