An archaic or variant spelling of disdain; contempt or scorn shown toward someone or something.
From Old French desdeign, combining des- (negative prefix) and deignier (to deign, from Latin dignari meaning to find worthy). The spelling 'disdein' reflects older pronunciation.
Medieval and Renaissance English texts show multiple spellings of the same word—'disdain,' 'disdein,' 'disdaign'—because spelling wasn't standardized yet, which is why Shakespeare's disdain might be spelled differently in different folios!
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