contumely

noun con·tume·ly \kän-ˈtü-mə-lē, kən-, -ˈtyü-; ˈkän-tü-ˌmē-lē, -tyü-ˌ, -chə-ˌ; in “Hamlet” ˈkän-(ˌ)tyüm-lē or ˈkän-chəm-\

plural con·tume·lies

Definition of CONTUMELY

: harsh language or treatment arising from haughtiness and contempt; also : an instance of such language or treatment

Middle English contumelie, from Middle French, from Latin contumelia

First Known Use: 14th century

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