different between invective vs contempt

English

Etymology

From Middle French invective, from Medieval Latin invectiva (“abusive speech”), from Latin invect?vus, from invectus, perfect passive participle of inveh? (“bring in”), from in + veh? (“carry”). See vehicle, and compare with inveigh.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?n?v?kt?v/
• Rhymes: -?v
• Rhymes: -?kt?v

Noun

invective (countable and uncountable, plural invectives)

1. An expression which inveighs or rails against a person.
2. A severe or violent censure or reproach.
3. Something spoken or written, intended to cast shame, disgrace, censure, or reproach on another.
4. A harsh or reproachful accusation.

   Politics can raise invective to a low art.

Translations

Adjective

invective (comparative more invective, superlative most invective)

1. Characterized by invection or railing.

   Tom's speeches became diatribes — each more invective than the last.

Synonyms

• (characterized by invection or railing): abusive, critical, denunciatory, satirical, vitriolic, vituperative

Translations

French

Pronunciation

• Homophones: invectivent, invectives

Noun

invective f (plural invectives)

1. invective

Verb

invective

1. first-person singular present indicative of invectiver
2. third-person singular present indicative of invectiver
3. first-person singular present subjunctive of invectiver
4. third-person singular present subjunctive of invectiver
5. second-person singular imperative of invectiver

Further reading

• “invective” in Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).

Portuguese

Verb

invective

1. first-person singular present subjunctive of invectivar
2. third-person singular present subjunctive of invectivar
3. third-person singular imperative of invectivar

English

Alternative forms

• c?tempt, cõtempt (obsolete)

Etymology

From Latin contemptus (“scorn”), from contemn? (“I scorn, despise”), from com- + temn? (“I despise”). Displaced native Old English forsewennes.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /k?n?t?mpt/
• Rhymes: -?mpt

Noun

contempt (countable and uncountable, plural contempts)

1. (uncountable) The state or act of contemning; the feeling or attitude of regarding someone or something as inferior, base, or worthless; scorn, disdain.
2. The state of being despised or dishonored; disgrace.
3. (law) Open disrespect or willful disobedience of the authority of a court of law or legislative body.

Synonyms

• See Thesaurus:contempt

Antonyms

• See Thesaurus:contempt

Derived terms

Related terms

Translations

Further reading

• contempt in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• contempt in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.
• contempt at OneLook Dictionary Search