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Added 9 October 2026

contumely

/ˈkɒnt͡ʃuːməli/ noun

Latin root: contumēlia Wiktionary

noun Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about contumely at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

Offensive and abusive language or behaviour; scorn, insult.

Origin

From Old French contumelie, from Latin contumēlia (“insult”), perhaps from com- + tumeō (“swell”).

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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