kən.ˈt(y)üməlē, (ˈ)kän.|t-, -li; ˈkäntəˌmēlē, -n.tyə-, -nchə-, -_mə̇l-; in the Hamlet soliloquy often ˈkänchəml- or -n.tyəml- or -n._tyüml- noun
( -es )
Etymology: Middle English contumelie, from Middle French, from Latin contumelia, perhaps from com- + -tumelia (akin to tumēre to swell); from its assumed earlier meaning of “puffed-up, arrogant speech” — more at thumb
1. : rude language or treatment arising from haughtiness and contempt
the book bristles with contumely and wrath — New Yorker
2. : an instance or exhibition of contumely : insult
their tracts got burnt or treated with even worse contumely — Samuel Butler †1902
3. : the suffering of contumely : humiliation
a capacity for bearing contumely — Herman Wouk