— contumelious /kon'tooh mee"lee euhs, -tyooh-/ , adj. — contumeliously , adv. — contumeliousness , n.
/kon"too meuh lee, -tyoo-; keuhn tooh"meuh lee, -tyooh"-; kon"teuhm lee, -tyoohm, -cheuhm/ , n. , pl. contumelies .
1. insulting display of contempt in words or actions; contemptuous or humiliating treatment.
2. a humiliating insult.
[ 1350-1400; ME contumelie ( contumelia, perh. akin to contumax (see CONTUMACY), though formation and sense development are unclear ]
Syn. 1. abuse, scorn, disdain, rudeness.