The Language of Contempt

Today I want to look at language, and specifically the use of certain words. In this case—given the climate of hatred spewing out all over the place—I'm focusing in on the word, despise [verb] to feel contempt or a deep repugnance for, as in : he despised himself for voting for Trump. So, jumping right in, let's get to it… It's one thing to dislike someone or something; it's quite another to despise or detest a person or thing. Both are strong words used to describe an extreme dislike or hatred. Detest is probably the purest expression of hatred, (: she detested the woman who had raised her, and longed to find her own mother), while despise suggests looking down with great contempt and regarding the person as mean, petty, weak, or worthless (he despised men whose only concern was their own safety). Disdain carries even stronger connotations of superiority, often combined with self-righteousness, (: to disdain anyone lacking a college education). Scorn is a stronger word for disdain,…