■ noun
1》 the feeling that someone or something is worthless or beneath consideration.
2》 (also ~ of court ) the offence of being disobedient to or disrespectful of a court of law.
Phrases
beneath ~ utterly worthless or despicable.
hold someone in ~ judge someone to be in ~ of court.
hold someone/thing in ~ despise someone or something.
Origin
ME: from L. ~us , from contemnere (see contemn ).