INDIGNITY

Cruel treatment, ridicule, scorn, the victim of abuse. In the law of divorce, a species of cruelty addressed to the mind, sensibilities, self-respect, or personal honor of the subject, rather than to the body, and defined as “unmerited contemptuous conduct towards another; any action towards’ another which manifests contempt for him; contumely, incivility, or injury accompanied with insult.” But the phrase “indignities to the person,” as used in statutes, has reference to bodily Indignities, as distinguished from such as may be offered to the mind, sensibilities, or reputation.