disdain

Pronunciation: /dɪsˈdeɪn/ (dis-DAYN)

Origin: From Middle English "disdeine," derived from Old French "desdeignier," ultimately from Latin "dis-" (expressing negation) + "dignari" (to consider worthy)

Part of Speech: noun, verb

Meanings:

1. (noun) A feeling of contempt or scorn for someone or something regarded as unworthy or inferior
2. (verb) To consider or treat with contempt; to look down upon with scorn

Example Sentences:

1. The celebrity looked at her fans with disdain, refusing to sign autographs.
2. He disdained the offer of help, insisting he could manage on his own.
3. Her disdain for traditional customs was evident in her unconventional lifestyle.

Related Words:

• Noun forms: disdainfulness
• Adjective forms: disdainful
• Adverb forms: disdainfully
• Synonyms: contempt, scorn, derision, disregard, condescension

Memorization Trick: Think of "dis-DANE," where "dis" implies negation and "dane" sounds like "deign" (to condescend). So, disdain is the opposite of condescending to approve – it's looking down on something as beneath you.