contemptus

Contemptus is a Latin noun derived from the verb contemnere, meaning contempt, scorn, or disdain. In Latin literature, it denotes the feeling or act of regarding something with strong dislike or disrespect. The term is frequently encountered in religious and moral contexts, where it can express renunciation of worldly values or authority.

The phrase contemptus mundi, often found in ascetical and monastic writings, conveys the idea of scorning worldly pleasures in favor of spiritual aims. Other collocations, such as contemptus temporum or contemptus saeculi, appear in medieval theological and philosophical prose to describe contempt for the world or the changing times.

In modern scholarship, contemptus is mainly discussed as a historical linguistic term. Translations include “contempt,” “scorn,” and “disdain.” The concept bears resemblance to, but is not a direct counterpart of, the legal concept of contempt of court in English, which expresses willful disobedience or disrespect toward a court's authority.

See also: Contempt, Contempt of court, Contemptus mundi.