WordWealth: contumely

con·tu·me·ly

in "Hamlet", n., pl.

His canorous contumely has now been cited, alongside the notorious prejudice of the public prosecutor and the presence of leftwing mobs, as evidence that Mr Berlusconi cannot expect a fair trial in the country's hostile financial capital.—— Philip Willan in 'Tripped by Troublesome Troubadour'; A street singer's caustic songs appear to have put the Italian prime minister on the defensive, writes Philip Willan; Guardian; March 07, 2002

Following years of police harassment and public contumely, he was arrested and charged with high treason, espionage and 'anti-Soviet activity'.—— Know Thyself, Free Thyself; New York Times, June 5, 1988

Derision, the psychiatrists tell us, is often more difficult to bear than abuse. Yet there is an elite corps of two dozen hand-picked men who, every winter weekend, willingly subject themselves to 90 minutes of raucous contumely. Usually the contempt is jovial. Occasionally the scorn is vicious. Then the Saturday afternoon ends with a police escort and Sunday morning begins with abusive telephone calls. What makes a sane and rational person subject himself to such humiliation? Why on earth does anyone want to become a Premiership football referee?.—— Roy Hattersley; Who's the Masochist in the Black?; Guardian; April 02, 2002

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