Where does “contumely” come from?
Contumely comes from Old French contumelie, derived from Latin contumelia, formed from the prefix com- and an unattested root whose original meaning remains unclear.
contumely (English): Offensive and abusive language or behaviour;...
Definitions
- Offensive and abusive language or behaviour;...
Ancestry of “contumely”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Old French | contumelie | insult |
| 2 | Latin | contumēlia | insult, reproach, contumely, abuse, mistreatment |