Lewis & Short

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contŭmācĭa, ae, f. [contumax], perseverance in one’s purpose or opinion, generally in a bad sense, arrogance, inflexibility, contumacy, obstinacy, stubbornness.

  1. I. Prop.
    1. A. In gen. (in good prose, and very freq.): illa tua singularis insolentia, superbia, contumacia, Cic. Verr. 2, 4, 41, § 89; so, contumacia et adrogantia, id. Rosc. Com. 15, 44: contumacia et ferocitas, Suet. Vit. 2 al.: inter abruptam contumaciam et deforme obsequium pergere iter, Tac. A. 4, 20 fin.: oris oculorumque illa contumacia ac superbia, Cic. Verr. 2, 3, 2, § 5: adversus principem, Tac. H. 4, 3: parendi, Plin. Pan. 18: eadem in vultu, Liv. 2, 61, 6; cf. Tac. A. 1, 24 fin.: responsi tui, Cic. Pis. 31, 78.
      Sometimes in a good sense, firmness, constancy, self-confidence (cf. contumax): Socrates adhibuit liberam contumaciam, Cic. Tusc. 1, 29, 71; so, maxima innocentiae, Quint. Decl. 2, 5.
    2. B. Esp., jurid. t. t., an obstinate disobedience to a judicial order, an obstinate refusal to appear in court, contumacy, Traj. ap. Plin. Ep. 10, 57 (65), 2: contumacia eorum, qui jus dicenti non temperant, litis damno coërcetur, Dig. 42, 1, 53 pr.; cf. contumax, I. B.
  2. II. Transf., of animals: contumacia pervicax boum, Col. 6, 2, 11.
    Of inanim. things: arborum (with fastidium), obstinacy in growth, Plin. 16, 32, 58, § 134.