/kon"too meuh see, -tyoo-/ , n. , pl. contumacies .
stubborn perverseness or rebelliousness; willful and obstinate resistance or disobedience to authority.
[ 1150-1200; ME contumacie contumacia, equiv. to contumac-, s. of contumax unyielding, stubborn ( con- CON- + -tum- of uncert. sense, though connected by classical authors with both contemnere to regard with CONTEMPT and tumere to swell) + -ax adj. suffix) + -ia -IA ]