a. [a. OF. contumélieus (mod.F. -eux), ad. L. contumēliōs-us, f. contumēlia CONTUMELY + -OUS.]
1. Of words and actions: Of the nature of, or full of contumely; reproachful and tending to convey disgrace and humiliation; despiteful.
1483. Caxton, Gold. Leg., 427/3. He sayd noo wordes tumelous ne contumelious ne other dysordynate wordes.
1526. Pilgr. Perf. (1531), 13. Contumelyous and opprobryous blasphemes of the iewes.
1531. Elyot, Gov., III. xii. Catullus wrate agayne hym contumelyouse or reprocheable versis.
1591. Shaks., 1 Hen. VI., I. iv. 39. With scoffes and scornes, and contumelious taunts.
1701. Swift, Contests Nobles & Com., Wks. 1755, II. I. 31. The people frequently proceeded to rude contumelious language.
1884. Manch. Exam., 29 Oct., 5/2. ‘Bonnet’ … ‘jackal’ … ‘badger’ … are all contumelious terms.
b. Of persons: Dealing in or using contemptuous reproach or abuse; superciliously insolent.
1548. Hall, Chron., 198 b. Kyng Edward … is a man, contumelious, opprobrious.
1614. T. Adams, Divell’s Banket, 229. He is not contumelious against vs, that haue been contumacious against him.
1855. Tennyson, Maud, I. xiii. 2. Curving a contumelious lip.
† c. Insolent. Obs.
1561. T. N[orton], Calvin’s Inst. (1634), Table Script. Quot., A contumelious and stubborne sonne, which will not be ruled by his Father or Mother.
1650. Bulwer, Anthropomet., viii. 100. In the contumelious despight of Nature [they] will have ears larger than Hounds.
a. 1745. Swift, Wks. (1841), II. 438. [Faction] was so universal that I observed the dogs in the streets much more contumelious and quarrelsome than usual.
† 2. Reproachful, shameful, disgraceful. Obs.
1546. Langley, Pol. Verg. De Invent., IV. v. 89 a. It was a contumelious thing both emong the Romaines and the Lumbardes to be shauen.
1663. Cowley, Verses & Ess., Of Liberty (1669), 82. If anything indeed ought to be called honorable, in so base and contumelious a condition.
