contumacy

(kän′tyo̵̅o̅ mə sē, -tə-)

stubborn refusal to submit to authority, esp. that of a law court; insubordination; disobedience

Origin: ME contumacie < L contumacia < contumax, haughty, stubborn < com-, intens. + tumere, to swell up: see tumor

See contumacy in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun pl. con·tu·ma·cies

Obstinate or contemptuous resistance to authority; stubborn rebelliousness.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English contumacie

Origin: , from Latin contumācia

Origin: , from contumāx, contumāc-, insolent

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