contumacy
UK: ˈkɒntjʊməsi | US: ˈkɑːntʊməsi
n. stubborn refusal to obey authority; willful resistance
contumacy = contum<stubbornness> + acy<noun suffix>
- contum<stubbornness>: From Latin contumax (stubborn, defiant).
- acy<noun suffix>: A suffix forming nouns denoting a state or quality (e.g., "accuracy," "privacy").
Etymology Origin:
The word traces back to Latin contumacia, derived from contumax (defiant). It entered Middle English via Old French, retaining its core sense of obstinate disobedience. The root contum- reflects defiance, while -acy abstracts it into a state of being. Historically, it described legal or ecclesiastical defiance, evolving into broader contexts of rebellion.
The king punished the noble's contumacy with exile.
Her contumacy in court led to a harsher sentence.
The union's contumacy delayed negotiations for months.
Contumacy against lawful orders is a serious offense.
The teacher struggled to manage the student's contumacy.