I.perseverance in one's purpose or opinion, generally in a bad sense, arrogance, inflexibility, contumacy, obstinacy, stubbornness.
I. Prop.
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.—
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.—
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.
