con·tu·me·ly (kŏn'tū-mə-lē, -tyū-, -təm-lē)
n., pl., -lies.

1. Rudeness or contempt arising from arrogance; insolence.
2. An insolent or arrogant remark or act.

[Middle English contumelie, from Old French, from Latin contumēlia, akin to contumāx, insolent.]

contumelious con'tu·me'li·ous (kŏn'tə-mē'lē-əs) adj.
contumeliously con'tu·me'li·ous·ly adv.

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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

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