contŭmācĭa (noun F) : contumax
* Perseverance in one's purpose or opinion, generally in a bad sense, arrogance, inflexibility, contumacy, obstinacy, stubbornness.
* Prop.
* In gen. (in good prose, and very freq.): illa tua singularis insolentia, superbia, contumacia,Cic. Verr. 2, 4, 41, § 89; so, contumacia et adrogantia,id. Rosc. Com. 15, 44: contumacia et ferocitas,Suet. Vit. 2 al.: inter abruptam contumaciam et deforme obsequium pergere iter,Tac. A. 4, 20 fin.: oris oculorumque illa contumacia ac superbia,Cic. Verr. 2, 3, 2, § 5: adversus principem,Tac. H. 4, 3: parendi,Plin. Pan. 18: eadem in vultu,Liv. 2, 61, 6; cf. Tac. A. 1, 24 fin.: responsi tui,Cic. Pis. 31, 78.— Sometimes in a good sense, firmness, constancy, self-confidence (cf. contumax): Socrates adhibuit liberam contumaciam,Cic. Tusc. 1, 29, 71; so, maxima innocentiae,Quint. Decl. 2, 5.
* Transf., of animals: contumacia pervicax boum,Col. 6, 2, 11.—Of inanim. things: arborum (with fastidium),obstinacy in growth,Plin. 16, 32, 58, § 134.

s. TLL