contumelious, a.
(kɒntjuːˈmiːlɪəs)
[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 Shakes. 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. |