disdain Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun lack of respect accompanied by a feeling of intense dislike
    scorn; despite; contempt.
    • he was held in contempt
    • the despite in which outsiders were held is legendary
  2. noun a communication that indicates lack of respect by patronizing the recipient
    condescension; patronage.
  3. verb look down on with disdain
    scorn; despise; contemn.
    • He despises the people he has to work for
    • The professor scorns the students who don't catch on immediately
  4. verb reject with contempt
    freeze off; spurn; reject; scorn; pooh-pooh; turn down.
    • She spurned his advances

WordNet

Dis*dain" noun
Etymology
OE. desdain, disdein, OF. desdein, desdaing, F. dédain, fr. the verb. See Disdain, v. t.
Definitions
  1. A feeling of contempt and aversion; the regarding anything as unworthy of or beneath one; scorn.
    How my soul is moved with just disdain! Pope.
    Often implying an idea of haughtiness.
    Disdain and scorn ride sparkling in her eyes. Shak.
  2. That which is worthy to be disdained or regarded with contempt and aversion. Obs.
    Most loathsome, filthy, foul, and full of vile disdain. Spenser.
  3. The state of being despised; shame. Obs. Shak. Syn. -- Haughtiness; scorn; contempt; arrogance; pride. See Haughtiness.
Dis*dain" transitive verb
Etymology
OE. disdainen, desdainen, OF. desdeigner, desdaigner, F. dédaigner; des- (L. dis-) + daigner to deign, fr. L. dignari to deem worthy. See Deign.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Disdained ; present participle & verbal noun Disdaining
Definitions
  1. To think unworthy; to deem unsuitable or unbecoming; as, to disdain to do a mean act.
    Disdaining . . . that any should bear the armor of the best knight living. Sir P. Sidney.
  2. To reject as unworthy of one's self, or as not deserving one's notice; to look with scorn upon; to scorn, as base acts, character, etc.
    When the Philistine . . . saw Dawid, he disdained him; for he was but a youth. 1 Sam. xvii. 42.
    'T is great, 't manly to disdain disguise. Young.
    Syn. -- To contemn; despise; scorn. See Contemn.
Dis*dain" intransitive verb
Definitions
  1. To be filled with scorn; to feel contemptuous anger; to be haughty.
    And when the chief priests and scribes saw the marvels that he did . . . they disdained. Genevan Testament (Matt. xxi. 15).

Webster 1913