Cōn'tu-ma-cy, n.
n. [Lat. contumacia, from contumax, insolent, either from con and tumere, to swell, or from contemnere, to despise; Fr. contumace, Pr., Sp., & It. contumacia.] 1. Persistent obstinacy; stubborn perverseness; pertinacious resistance to authority.
The bishop commanded him... to be thrust into the stocks for his manifest and manifold contumacy. Strype.
Sense 2. (Law.) A willful contempt of, and disobedience to, any lawful summons, or to the rules and orders of court, as a refusal to appear in court when legally summoned.
Synonyms—Stubbornness; perverseness; obstinacy; pride; haughtiness.