Emily Dickinson Lexicon

CON-TEM'PO-RIZE, v.t.

To make contemporary; to place in the same age or time. [Not used.] – Brown.

CON-TEM'PO-RIZ-ED, pp.

Placed in the same time or age.

CON-TEM'PO-RIZ-ING, ppr.

Placing in the same time.

CON-TEMPT', n. [L. contemptus. See Contemn.]

1. The act of despising; the act of viewing or considering and treating as mean, vile and worthless; disdain; hatred of what is mean or deemed vile. This word is one of the strongest expressions of a mean opinion which the language affords. Nothing, says Longinus, can be great, the contempt of which is great. – Addison.
2. The state of being despised; whence, in a Scriptural sense, shame, disgrace. Some shall awake to everlasting contempt. – Dan. xii.
3. In law, disobedience of the rules and orders of a court which is a punishable offense.

CON-TEMPT'I-BLE, a. [L. contemptibilis.]

1. Worthy of contempt; that deserves scorn, or disdain; despicable; mean; vile. Intemperance is a contemptible vice. No plant or animal is so contemptible as not to exhibit evidence of the wonderful power and wisdom of the Creator. The pride that leads to dueling is a contemptible passion.
2. Apt to despise; contemptuous. [Not legitimate.] – Shak.

CON-TEMPT'I-BLE-NESS, n.

The state of being contemptible, or of being despised; despicableness; meanness; vileness.

CON-TEMPT'I-BLY, adv.

In a contemptible manner; meanly; in a manner deserving of contempt.

CON-TEMPT'U-OUS, a.

Manifesting or expressing contempt or disdain; scornful; as, contemptuous language or manner; a contemptuous opinion. Applied to men, apt to despise; haughty; insolent; as, a nation, proud, severe, contemptuous. – Milton.

CON-TEMPT'U-OUS-LY, adv.

In a contemptuous manner; with scorn or disdain; despitefully. The apostles and most eminent Christians were poor, and treated contemptuously. – Taylor.

CON-TEMPT'U-OUS-NESS, n.

Disposition to contempt; act of contempt; insolence; scornfulness; haughtiness.

CON-TEND', v.i. [L. contendo; con and tendo, to stretch, from teneo; Gr. τεινω. See Tend, Tenet.]

1. To strive, or to strive against; to struggle in opposition. Distress not the Moabites; nor contend with them in battle. – Deut ii.
2. To strive; to use earnest efforts to obtain, or to defend and preserve. You sit above, and see vain men below / Contend for what you only can bestow. – Dryden. Ye should earnestly contend for the faith once delivered to the saints. – Jude 3.
3. To dispute earnestly; to strive in debate. They that were of the circumcision contended with him. – Acts xi. Job ix.
4. To reprove sharply; to chide; to strive to convince and reclaim. Then contended I with the rulers. – Neh. xiii.
5. To strive in opposition; to punish. The Lord God called to contend by fire. – Amos vii.
6. To quarrel; to dispute fiercely; to wrangle. The parties contend about trifles. To contend for, to strive to obtain; as, two competitors contend for the prize.

CON-TEND', v.t.

To dispute; to contest. When Carthage shall contend the world with Rome. – Dryden. This transitive use of contend is not strictly legitimate. The phrase is elliptical, for being understood after contend; but it is admissible in poetry.

CON-TEND'ED, pp.

Urged in argument or debate; disputed; contested.

CON-TEND'ENT, n.

An antagonist or opposer. – L'Estrange.

CON-TEND'ER, n.

One who contends; a combatant; a champion. – Locke. Watts.

CON-TEND'ING, ppr.

1. Striving; struggling to oppose; debating; urging in argument; quarreling.
2. adj. Clashing; opposing; rival; as, contending claims or interests.

CON-TEN'E-MENT, n. [con and tenement.]

Land, or freehold contiguous to a tenement. – Blackstone. Norm. Dict.

CON-TENT', a. [L. contentus, from contineor, to be held; con and teneo, to hold.]

Literally, held, contained within limits: hence, quiet; not disturbed; having a mind at peace; easy; satisfied, so as not to repine, object, or oppose. Content with science in the vale of peace. – Pope. Having food and raiment, let us be therewith content. 1 Tim. vi.

CON-TENT', n.

1. Rest or quietness of the mind in the present condition; satisfaction which holds the mind in peace, restraining complaint, opposition, or further desire, and often implying a moderate degree of happiness. A wise content his even soul secur'd; / By want not shaken, nor by wealth allur'd. – Smith.
2. Acquiescence; satisfaction without examination. The style is excellent; / The sense they humbly take upon content. – Pope.
3. The term used in the House of Lords in England, to express an assent to a bill or motion.

CON'TENT, n. [often in the plural, Contents.]

1. That which is contained; the thing or things held, included or comprehended within a limit or line; as, the contents of a cask or bale; of a room or a ship; the contents of a book or writing.
2. In geometry, the area or quantity of matter or space included in certain lines.
3. The power of containing; capacity; extent within limits; as, a ship of great content. – Bacon. [But in this sense the plural is generally used.]
4. Heads of what a book contains; an index.

CON-TENT', v.t.

1. To satisfy the mind; to make quiet, so as to stop complaint or opposition; to appease; to make easy in any situation; used chiefly with the reciprocal pronoun. Do not content yourselves with obscure and confused ideas, where clearer are to be obtained. – Watts. Pilate, willing to content the people, released Barabbas. – Mark xv.
2. To please or gratify. It doth much content me, / To hear him so inclined. – Shak.

CON-TENT-A'TION, n.

Content; satisfaction. [Obs.] – Arbuthnot.

CON-TENT'ED, pp. [or a.]

Satisfied; quiet; easy in mind; not complaining, opposing or demanding more. The good man is contented with his lot. It is our duty to be contented with the dispensations of Providence.

CON-TENT'ED-LY, adv.

In a contented manner; quietly; without concern.

CON-TENT'ED-NESS, n.

State of resting in mind; quiet; satisfaction of mind with any condition or event. – Walton.