Obs. [f. L. contempt- ppl. stem of contemnĕre to CONTEMN.] By-form of CONTEMN.
c. 1552. Bp. Gardiner, in Ellis, Orig. Lett., II. 146. II. 208. I wylbe ware to geve any man cause to contempte me.
1567. Triall Treas. (1850), 31. You do not contempte the simple and poore.
1822. Southey, Lett. (1856), III. 356. I regretted that the Swedes and Danes should so much ‘contempt’ each other.
