I.he who puts small value upon or makes light of a thing, a contemner, despiser (freq. after the Aug. per.; “not in Cic. or Hor.): divum Mezentius,” Verg. A. 7, 648; cf. “superūm,” Ov. M. 3, 514: “magni Olympi cum dis,” id. ib. 13, 761: religionum, * Suet. Ner. 56: “gratiae, divitiarum (Cato),” Liv. 39, 40, 10: “famae,” id. 44, 22, 7: “suae infamiae,” Tac. A. 6, 38: “opum,” id. H. 4, 5; cf. “sui (opp. prodigus alieni),” id. G. 31: “Amulius aequi,” Ov. F. 3, 49: “ferri, nullo forabilis ictu,” id. M. 12, 170; cf.: “vulnerum leones,” Plin. 8, 16, 18, § 46: “nostri,” Ov. M. 11, 7; 9, 240: (Cicero) minime sui contemptor, * Quint. 12, 1, 20 (cf. contemno, II.).—
II. Of abstract subjects: “lucis animus,” Verg. A. 9, 205; cf.: “ambitionis animus,” Plin. Pan. 55, 9; and absol. as adj.: cui inerat contemptor animus et superbia, a proud, disdainful spirit, * Sall. J. 64, 1.
