contumacy

American  

[kon-too-muh-see, -tyoo-] / ˈkɒn tʊ mə si, -tyʊ- /

noun

plural

contumacies

1. stubborn perverseness or rebelliousness; willful and obstinate resistance or disobedience to authority.

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contumacy British  

/ ˈkɒntjʊməsɪ /

noun

1. obstinate and wilful rebelliousness or resistance to authority; insubordination; disobedience

2. the wilful refusal of a person to appear before a court or to comply with a court order

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Etymology

Origin of contumacy

1150–1200; Middle English contumacie < Latin contumācia, equivalent to contumāc-, stem of contumāx unyielding, stubborn ( con- con- + -tum- of uncertain sense, though connected by classical authors with both contemnere to regard with contempt and tumēre to swell) + -āx adj. suffix) + -ia -ia

Example Sentences

"This is the most outrageous case of contumacy I have ever seen," bellowed Lawyer Rogge, obtaining a recess until March 20.

From Time Magazine Archive

She was "busted" out of Bryn Mawr for "deplorable contumacy of conduct."

From Time Magazine Archive

Shelley and Sir William Sirs: Shelley was dismissed for contumacy.

From Time Magazine Archive

Monsieur le Chevalier, we shall excuse you for your contumacy, having the means of arriving at information by a higher power.

From The Huguenot: (Volumes I-III) A Tale of the French Protestants. by James, G. P. R. (George Payne Rainsford)

So, then, here was a strike of farm-hands and open contumacy, but Krzycki was helpless.

From Whirlpools A Novel of Modern Poland by Sienkiewicz, Henryk