vilipend

Meaning

Verb

• To treat (something) as inconsequential or worthless; to despise, to look down on.
• To express a disparaging opinion of; to slander or vilify.

Origin

• From Middle English vilipenden, from Old French vilipender (modern French vilipender), or its etymon Latin vilipendō, from vīlis (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *wes-) + pendō (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *(s)pend-). The English word is cognate with Italian vilipendere, Portuguese vilipendiar, Spanish vilipendiar.