Contumacies

1 definition found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Contumacy \Con"tu*ma*cy\ (k[o^]n"t[-u]*m[.a]*s[y^]), n.; pl.
     {Contumacies} (k[o^]n"t[-u]*m[.a]*s[i^]z). [L. contumacia,
     fr. contumax, -acis, insolent; prob. akin to contemnere to
     despise: cf. F. contumace. Cf. {Contemn}.]
     1. Stubborn perverseness; pertinacious resistance to
        authority.


        [1913 Webster]
  
              The bishop commanded him . . . to be thrust into the
              stocks for his manifest and manifold contumacy.
                                                    --Strype.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. (Law) A willful contempt of, and disobedience to, any
        lawful summons, or to the rules and orders of court, as a
        refusal to appear in court when legally summoned.
  
     Syn: Stubbornness; perverseness; obstinacy.
          [1913 Webster]