contumacy

noun

con·tu·ma·cy kən-ˈtü-mə-sē

-ˈtyü-;

ˈkän-tü-,

-tyü-,

-chə-

: stubborn resistance to authority

specifically : willful contempt of court

a rogue archbishop who was excommunicated on grounds of contumacy

Etymology

Middle English contumacie, from Anglo-French, from Latin contumacia, from contumac-, contumax rebellious

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of contumacy was in the 13th century

See more words from the same century

Style

“Contumacy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/contumacy. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.

Copy Citation

contumacy

noun

con·tu·ma·cy kən-ˈtü-mə-sē, -ˈtyü-; ˈkän-tə-mə-sē, -tyə-

: willful disobedience of a court order

contumacious

ˌkän-tü-ˈmā-shəs, -tyü-

adjective

Etymology

Latin contumacia, literally, defiance, obstinacy

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