contumacy

C2 Topic:Abstract Ideas

US /ˈkɑːntʊməsi/ UK /ˈkɒntjʊməsi/ See IPA manual

Freq #690276

Meanings

1

noun
stubborn resistance to authority; deliberate and obstinate disobedience

The governor treated the prisoner's continued contumacy as a direct challenge to his authority.
2

noun
law: wilful refusal to obey a court order or appear when summoned

The judge imposed a penalty for contumacy after the witness ignored a second summons.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · stubborn resistance to... insubordination defiance obstinacy

2 noun · law: wilful refusal to obey... contemptnoncompliance

Opposites

obedience compliance submission

Word family

Derived forms contumacious contumaciously

Related forms contempt contumely

Etymology

From Latin contumacia ('stubbornness, insolence'), from contumax ('disobedient, obstinate; refusing a legal summons'). English preserved both the broad sense of defiance and the narrower legal sense of refusing a court's authority.

Topics

Abstract Ideas Word Formation & Derivatives

External links

# contumacy

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /ˈkɑːntʊməsi/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈkɒntjʊməsi/
**Frequency rank:** 690276

## Meanings
1. stubborn resistance to authority; deliberate and obstinate disobedience
2. law: wilful refusal to obey a court order or appear when summoned

## Examples
- The governor treated the prisoner's continued contumacy as a direct challenge to his authority.
- The judge imposed a penalty for contumacy after the witness ignored a second summons.

## Synonyms
- insubordination
- defiance
- obstinacy
- noncompliance

## Antonyms
- obedience
- compliance
- submission

## Derived Forms
- contumacious
- contumaciously

## Related Forms
- contempt
- contumely

## Etymology
From Latin contumacia ('stubbornness, insolence'), from contumax ('disobedient, obstinate; refusing a legal summons'). English preserved both the broad sense of defiance and the narrower legal sense of refusing a court's authority.

## Topics
- Abstract Ideas
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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