Today's word is "CONTUMELIOUS".

DEFINITION:

1. Rudeness; contempt arising from arrogance; insolence.
2. An insolent or arrogant remark or act. (Middle English contumelie, from Old French, from Latin contumēlia; akin to contumāx, insolent)

ETYMOLOGY
contumelious late 15c., from Fr.contumélieus, from L. contumeliosus,from contumelia

PRONUNCIATION:
con·tu·meli·ous
Listen

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USAGE:

"Indeed, among surviving records between 1460 and 1470, men who made assaults with CONTUMELIOUS words numbered almost as many as scolds.”

--Venomous Tongues
by Sandy Bardsley

”...his conduct is not CONTUMELIOUS and therefore the consequences of contumely do not flow.

-- Lloyd's Law Reports, Volume 2
Lloyd's of London Press, 1991

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SYNONYMS:

1. abusive;
2. brash;
3. cheeky;
4. contemptuous

ANTONYMS:

1. respectful;
2. timid;
3. pusillanimous

SCRABBLE SCORE
16

CONTEMPT
The Expression Of Emotion In Man And Animals
London, 1972

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Do you use the word “CONTUMELIOUS”?

What words meaning “rude” or “insolent” do use or fancy?
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