Contumacious means stubbornly disobedient or rebellious. The word is linked to the Latin "contumax," which can refer to contempt of court.
Contumacious bedeutet hartnäckig ungehorsam oder rebellisch. Das Wort ist mit dem lateinischen "contumax" verbunden, das sich auf Verachtung des Gerichts beziehen kann.
| Front | contumacious \kahn-too-MAY-shus\ |
|---|---|
| Back | adjective Stubbornly disobedient; rebellious. [Legal contexts are one area where you might encounter this fancy word for "rebellious" or "insubordinate" -- and the link between "contumacious" and the law goes back to Latin. The Latin adjective "contumax" means "rebellious," or, in specific cases, "showing contempt of court." "Contumacious" is related to "contumely," meaning "harsh language or treatment arising from haughtiness and contempt." Both "contumacious" and "contumely" are thought to ultimately come from the Latin verb "tumere," meaning "to swell" or "to be proud."] "Without the disciplining presence of the two heavyweights, contumacious councillors busied themselves with procedural obstruction and shouting 'corruption' at each other." - Tehran's Municipal Politics; The Economist (London, UK); Jan 25, 2003. |
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