Contempt, n.
Etymology: [L. contemptus, fr. contemnere: cf. OF. contempt. See Contemn.]
1. The act of contemning or despising; the feeling with which one regards that which is esteement mean, vile, or worthless; disdain; scorn. Criminal contempt of public feeling. Macaulay. Nothing, says Longinus, can be great, the contempt of which is great. Addison.
2. The state of being despised; disgrace; shame. Contempt and begarry hangs upon thy back. Shaks.
3. An act or expression denoting contempt. Little insults and contempts. Spectator. The contempt and anger of his lip. Shak.
4. (Law)
3 more senses
Disobedience of the rules, orders, or process of a court of justice, or of rules or orders of a legislative body; disorderly, contemptuous, or insolent language or behavior in presence of a court, tending to disturb its proceedings, or impair the respect due to its authority.
Note: Contempt is in some jurisdictions extended so as to include publications reflecting injuriously on a court of justice, or commenting unfairly on pending proceedings; in other jurisdictions the courts are prohibited by statute or by the constitution from thus exercising this process.
Syn. -- Disdain; scorn; derision; mockery; contumely; neglect; disregard; slight.
Shades of meaning
Fernald lists contempt only as an antonym, under esteem, fame, praise, veneration.
He lists it without comment; the entries above explain its neighbors.