contemptuosity

plural contemptuosities

1. rareuncountableThe state of being contemptuous.

   The fact is that, as Mr. Toole would say, “too much over-familiarity breeds contemptuosity.”

   1892, “[St. Martin’s Letter-Bag.] Electricity at the Crystal Palace.”, in St. Martin’s-le-Grand. The Post Office Magazine., volume II, London: […] [F]or the Honorary Secretaries by W. P. Griffith & Sons, Limited, […], page 136

   5 more examples

   That the said Mr. Cornelius Dalton persisted, notwithstanding this great act of contemptuosity and discouragement to his creditable and industrious endeavours, to expend, upon the aforesaid farm, in solid and valuable improvements, a sum of seven hundred pounds and upwards, in building, draining enclosing, and manuring—all of which improvements transcendantly elevated the value of the farm in question, as the whole rational population of the country could depose to—me ipso teste quoque.

   1846 October, William Carleton, “[The Black Prophet.—A Tale of Irish Famine.] Chapter XXII.—Jemmy Branigan and the Pedlar.”, in The Dublin University Magazine, a Literary and Political Journal, volume XXVIII, number CLXVI, Dublin: James MᶜGlashan, […]. W[illiam] S[omerville] Orr and Company, London, page 476, column 2

   Tony. And so I was Bessy, I was quarrelling with myself, I assure you it takes a deal of powerful language to make any impression on me, I’m obliged to come it very strong to do myself any good, but I think I have at last lashed myself into a determination not to stand it as I have done. Bessy. [r.] To stand what Tony. Tony. Why your uncle’s contemptuosity and opposition to our union; I suppose because my cousin won’t marry him—he likes to make every body as miserable as himself.

   1850, A[nthony] Younge, “Scene I.—A Rural Scene.”, in A Village Tale, an Interlude, […], London: […] S. G. Fairbrother, […], page 5

   “Fairest Isabella!” he cried, flinging himself at her feet, “long have I been paying my addresses—though the bill was not sent in,—vouchsafe, however, to say you will return my affection.” “Avaunt!” she cried, “thy bones are marrow”— “—Less,” he replied, “very much less, Señora. But why this rejectiousness and contemptuosity? I love thee with an affection that is killing me by inches—if not yards. Say thou wilt be mine,[…]”

   1868, Rayne Meade [pseudonym; Walter Parke], “The Tents of Torture”, in The Skull Hunters!: A Terrific Tale of the Prairie!! (Judy’s Library.—No. 1.), London: Judy’s Publishing Office, […], page 83

   A certain German gentleman, not a hundred miles from the Spanish market, got cross one day with some members who were teasing him, and informed them that “familiarity breeds contemptuosity.”

   1887, G[eorge] Duckworth Atkin (collector), House Scraps, London: […] [T]he Author […], page 8

   This reminds me that my revered friend, H. W. L., cannot consider this paper even a circumstance, at least so I would gather from his self-congratulatory par. last week in Turf, Field and Farm concerning “we were the only one who mentioned Mr. Harrison having bought Mr. Charles’ collies, etc.” What have you done to H. W. L. that he should treat you with such “contemptuosity?”

   1890 May 31, Brittle, “Sparks from Brittle’s Pen. Interesting Facts and Fancies Culled from the Doggy World.”, in The Fanciers’ Journal. Devoted to Dogs, Poultry, Pigeons & Pet Stock., volume 4, number 22 (whole 63), Philadelphia, Pa.: The Fanciers’ Publishing Company, page 342, column 2

2. countablerareSomeone or something that is contemptuous.

   A contemptuosity writes:⁠—“The League of Victorian Wheelmen allow their racing men to ride in anything, from a nightshirt to a potato sack. When Crisp won the Austral he rode in a sleeveless football or rowing guernsey, and looked so nice, as you may imagine.”

   1898 March 26, “Sport Jots”, in The Clipper, volume 4, number 259, Hobart, Tas., page 4, column 3

   2 more examples

   And now, if all the devices made use of on the occasion we have suggested—scowls, contemptuosities, cries of “humbug,” “devil in’t,“ charlatanry, and the hue and cry of editors, D. D.’s, M. D.’s, priests, lawyers, fashionability of churches, etc., put into grand action for reversing the mighty current of the Mrs. Scip., would prove a non sequitur, you can judge of the result of similar action upon the great “humbug,” Spiritualism; for, be it known to the sagacity of the corps editorial of The Winona Republican, that the said “humbug” is just as surely the mighty flow of Life’s unfoldings as the flowing waters of that great river are the results of gravitation. But, gentlemen, editors, and scientists, you must hurry up if you expect to kill Spiritualism with sneers, jibes, jokes, contemptuosities, scowls, inuendoes, or anything on that line, for you’ll find it a full Summer’s work. It has got to be a mighty hum—or rather snapping—bug.

   1872 January 20, J. R. Robinson, “From the Winona (Minn.) Republican. Huxley and the Spiritualists. That Eminent Scientist Catches an American Tartar in a Winona Defender of the Faith.”, in Religio-Philosophical Journal, volume XI, number 18, Chicago, Ill.: S[teven] S. Jones, page 1, column 5

   I had at this time already written my reply to my critics, and you persuaded me, you remember, to omit from the section on Sidney Hook my principal accusation against him—which is that in the Journal of Philosophy he reproduced my whole criticism of the Marxian philosophy of history, ten distinct ideas to be exact, and instead of acknowledging it, offered me one of his glib contemptuosities.

   1933 August, Max Eastman, “Self Portrait”, in New Masses, volume 8, number 12, New York, N.Y.: New Masses, Inc., page 10, column 1