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Contempt vs Discountenance - What's the difference?

contempt | discountenance |

As a noun contempt

is (uncountable) the state of contemning; the feeling or attitude of regarding someone or something as inferior, base, or worthless; scorn, disdain.

As a verb discountenance is

to have an unfavorable opinion of; to deprecate or disapprove of.

contempt

Alternative forms

* (obsolete) * (obsolete)

Noun

(en noun)
  • (uncountable) The state of contemning; the feeling or attitude of regarding someone or something as inferior, base, or worthless; scorn, disdain.
  • * , chapter=13
  • , title= The Mirror and the Lamp , passage=And Vickers launched forth into a tirade very different from his platform utterances. He spoke with extreme contempt of the dense stupidity exhibited on all occasions by the working classes. He said that if you wanted to do anything for them, you must rule them, not pamper them.}}
  • The state of being despised or dishonored; disgrace.
  • (legal) Open disrespect or willful disobedience of the authority of a court of law or legislative body.
  • Synonyms

    * See

    Antonyms

    * See

    Derived terms

    * contemptible * contempt of Congress * contempt of court * contempt of Parliament * contemptuous * familiarity breeds contempt

    discountenance

    English

    Verb

    (en-verb)
  • To have an unfavorable opinion of; to deprecate or disapprove of.
  • * Bancroft
  • A town meeting was convened to discountenance riot.
  • To abash, embarrass or disconcert.
  • * Milton
  • How would one look from his majestic brow Discountenance her despised!
  • * Sir Walter Scott
  • The hermit was somewhat discountenanced by this observation.