Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Contempn(e, v. [ME. contempne (c 1450), OF. contempner, L. contempnere, variant of contemnere Contemn(e v.] tr. To contemn, despisr. (The usual form c. 1490–1580.) 1490 Irland Mir. I. 40/33.
He … that … contempnis in his mynd all waurldly thingis Id. Asl. MS. I. 19/18.
His proper curat naway suld be contempnit a1500 Colk. Sow ii. 214.
Quhair evir thow seis grit wit in virtewis men … Contempne thame nocht 1513 Doug. i. viii. 81.
Albeit the strenth of men ȝhe set not by, And mortal weris contempnys and comptis nocht 1531 Bell. Boece II. 122.
He lichtlyit and contempnit his awin wife c1552 Lynd. Mon. 4544.
Frome tyme thay knew the veritiee, Thay did contempne all propertie 1572 Inverness B. Rec. I. 220.
Vtheris quha war buytht haldaris and na burgessis hes contempnit thair buytht halding 1579 Reg. Privy C. III. 190.
Sindrie that befoir wer privie ewill willaris ar now inbauldnit plainelie to contempne all religioun 1613 Melrose P. 112.
The erll him selff wes verie far contempnit and misregairdit be thame