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Webster 1913 Edition

Disdain

Dis-dain′

(?; 277)
,
Noun.
[OE.
desdain
,
disdein
, OF.
desdein
,
desdaing
, F.
dédain
, fr. the verb. See
Disdain
,
Verb.
T.
]
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.
Shakespeare
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.
Syn. – Haughtiness; scorn; contempt; arrogance; pride. See
Haughtiness
.

Dis-dain′

(?; 277)
,
Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Disdained
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Disdaining
.]
[OE.
disdainen
,
desdainen
, OF.
desdeigner
,
desdaigner
, F.
dédaigner
;
des-
(L.
dis-
) +
daigner
to deign, fr. L.
dignari
to deem worthy. See
Deign
.]
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 David, he
disdained
him; for he was but a youth.
1 Sam. xvii. 42.
Syn. – To contemn; despise; scorn. See
Contemn
.

Dis-dain′

,
Verb.
I.
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 1828 Edition

Disdain

DISDAIN

,
Verb.
T.
[L., to think worthy; worthy. See Dignity.] To think unworthy; to deem worthless; to consider to be unworthy of notice, care, regard, esteem, or unworthy of ones character; to scorn; to contemn. The man of elevated mind disdains a mean action; he disdains the society of profligate, worthless men; he disdains to corrupt the innocent, or insult the weak. Goliath disdained David.
Whose fathers I would have disdained to set with the dogs of my flock. Job 30.

DISDAIN

,
Noun.
Contempt; scorn; a passion excited in noble minds, by the hatred or detestation of what is mean and dishonorable, and implying a consciousness of superiority of mind, or a supposed superiority of mind, or a supposed superiority. In ignoble minds, disdain may spring from unwarrantable pride or haughtiness, and be directed toward objects of worth. It implies hatred, and sometimes anger.
How my soul is moved with just disdain.

Definition 2024

disdain

disdain

English

Noun

disdain ‎(uncountable)

  1. (uncountable) A feeling of contempt or scorn.
    The cat viewed the cheap supermarket catfood with disdain and stalked away.
    • William Shakespeare, Much ado about Nothing:
      Disdain and scorn ride sparkling in her eyes.
  2. (obsolete) That which is worthy to be disdained or regarded with contempt and aversion.
    • Spenser
      Most loathsome, filthy, foul, and full of vile disdain.
  3. (obsolete) The state of being despised; shame.
    (Can we find and add a quotation of Shakespeare to this entry?)

Derived terms

Synonyms

Antonyms

Translations

Verb

disdain ‎(third-person singular simple present disdains, present participle disdaining, simple past and past participle disdained)

  1. (transitive) To regard (someone or something) with strong contempt.
    • Bible, 1 Sam. xvii. 42
      When the Philistine […] saw David, he disdained him; for he was but a youth.
    • The Qur'an, trans. Edward Henry Palmer, 1880, Women, verse 170
      The Messiah, Jesus the son of Mary, is but the apostle of God and His Word, […] The Messiah doth surely not disdain to be a servant of God, nor do the angels who are nigh to Him ; and whosoever disdains His service and is too proud, He will gather them altogether to Himself. But as for those who believe and do what is right, He will pay their hire and will give increase to them of His grace. But as for those who disdain and are too proud, He will punish them with a grievous woe, and they shall not find for them other than God a patron or a help.
    • 2012 November 7, Matt Bai, “Winning a Second Term, Obama Will Confront Familiar Headwinds”, in New York Times:
      The country’s first black president, and its first president to reach adulthood after the Vietnam War and Watergate, Mr. Obama seemed like a digital-age leader who could at last dislodge the stalemate between those who clung to the government of the Great Society, on the one hand, and those who disdained the very idea of government, on the other.
  2. (intransitive, obsolete) To be indignant or offended.
    • 1526, William Tyndale, trans. Bible, Matthew XXI:
      When the chefe prestes and scribes sawe, the marveylles that he dyd [...], they desdayned, and sayde unto hym: hearest thou what these saye?

Synonyms

Antonyms

Translations

Etymology

From Old French desdeignier (modern French dédaigner).

Pronunciation

  • enPR: dĭs-dān', IPA(key): /dɪsˈdeɪn/
  • Rhymes: -eɪn

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