Emily Dickinson Lexicon

CON-TEMN', v.t. [L. contemno; con and temno, to despise; It. contennere; Ar. ذَأَمَ thauma; to drive away, to despise. Class Dm, No. 1, 4.]

1. To despise; to consider and treat as mean and despicable; to scorn. In whose eyes a vile person is contemned. – Ps. xv.
2. To slight; to neglect as unworthy of regard; to reject with disdain. Wherefore do the wicked contemn God. – Ps. x. They contemn the council of the Most High. – Ps. cvii.