I.insolent, unyielding, obstinate, stiff-necked, stubborn, contumacious.
I. Prop.
A. In gen. (freq. and in good prose): “quis contum acior? quis inhumanior? quis superbior?” Cic. Verr. 2, 2, 78, § 192: “Sara in me contumax,” id. Att. 15, 15, 2; cf.: “adversus plebem,” Suet. Tib. 2; and: “populus regibus suis,” Sen. Thyest. 644: “reus (together with arrogans, securus),” Quint. 6, 1, 14; cf. “animus (with arrogantia oris),” Tac. A. 5, 3: “contumaces et mconsultae voces,” id. ib. 4, 60: “preces,” id. ib. 2, 57: “voltus,” Curt. 4, 6, 24: “epistula,” Suet. Claud. 35: filii, Cod. Th. 8, 14, 1.—Rarely in a good sense, unyielding, firm, steadfast: “contumax etiam adversus tormenta servorum fides,” Tac. H. 1, 3 (cf. contumacia).—Poet.: “Hispanis ego contumax capillis,” Mart. 10, 65.—Comp., v. supra.—Sup.: “Fortuna contumacissimum quemque aggreditur,” Sen. Prov. 3, 4; id. Ep. 83, 21.—
B. Esp., jurid. t. t., that refuses to appear in a court of justice in obedience to a lawful summons: “contumax est, qui ... litteris evocatus, praesentiam, sui facere contemnet,” Dig. 42, 1, 53, § 1 sqq.; cf. contumacia, I. B.—
II. Transf., of animals: “boves,” Col. 6, 2, 10: “gallina ad concubitum,” id. 8, 2, 8.—Of inanimate things, not yielding, furnishing opposition: “lima,” Phaedr. 4, 7, 5: “cardamum frianti,” Plin. 12, 13, 29, § 50: “syllaba,” not fitting into measure, Mart. 9, 12.—Hence, adv.: contŭmācĭter , obstinately, stubbornly, etc.: contumaciter, arroganter, ἀκοινωνήτως solet ad me scribere, Cic. Att. 6, 1, 7: “contumaciter urbaneque vexatum,” id. Q. Fr. 2, 1, 3: “omnia agere,” Liv. 2, 58, 7; Quint. 11, 3, 11 et saep.—Comp., Nep. Cim. 2, 5.—In a good sense (cf. contumax and contumacia), firmly, Sen. Ep. 13, 2; Quint. 6, prooem. § 15;.—
b. Transf., of inanimate things: “lapides scalpturae resistunt,” Plin. 37, 7, 30, § 104; in comp., id. 19, 7, 35, § 117.
