Contemnible

/kənˈtɛmnəbəl/ adjective

Definition

Worthy of being scorned or despised; deserving of extreme contempt.

Etymology

From contemn plus -ible (Latin suffix meaning capable of being). This follows the pattern of words like 'contemptible' but uses the Latin verbal root directly rather than the noun form.

Kelly Says

This is one of those archaic synonyms for 'contemptible' that almost disappeared from English—you'll rarely see it in modern writing, but it demonstrates how the same root can spawn multiple adjective forms with subtle meaning variations.

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