different between contumely vs gainsaying

English

Etymology

From Old French contumelie, from Latin contum?lia (“insult”), perhaps from com- + tume? (“swell”).

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /?k?ntju?m?li/

Noun

contumely (countable and uncountable, plural contumelies)

1. Offensive and abusive language or behaviour; scorn, insult.

   • For who would beare the Whips and Scornes of time, The Oppressors wrong, the poore mans Contumely [...]

   • 1857, Anthony Trollope, Barchester Towers, Volume the Second, page 19 ?ISBN

     She had been subjected to contumely and cross-questoning and ill-usage through the whole evening.

   • 1953, James Strachey, translating Sigmund Freud, The Interpretation of Dreams, Avon Books, p. 178:

     If this picture of the two psychical agencies and their relation to the consciousness is accepted, there is a complete analogy in political life to the extraordinary affection which I felt in my dream for my friend R., who was treated with such contumely during the dream's interpretation.

Related terms

• contumacious
• contumaciously
• contumaciousness
• contumacy
• contumelious

Translations

Further reading

• “contumely”, in Lexico, Dictionary.com; Oxford University Press, 2019–present.

English

Etymology 1

From Middle English gaynesayenge, ?einseiing, ?einsegging, equivalent to gainsay +? -ing.

Noun

gainsaying (plural gainsayings)

1. Opposition, especially in speech.
2. Refusal to accept or believe something.
3. Contradiction.
4. Denial; denying.
   • 1887, The Rose of Paradise:

     But there was no gainsaying the wisdom of the advice which he had given me as to concealing the treasure.

5. (archaic or obsolete) Rebellious opposition; rebellion.
   • 1611, King James Bible, Jude verse 11:

     Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core.

Related terms

• gainsaw

Translations

Etymology 2

From gainsay.

Verb

gainsaying

1. present participle of gainsay