(adj.adv.) : con-tŭmax, ācis, adj.from the root tem, whence also temno; cf. contemno, and contumelia
* Insolent, unyielding, obstinate, stiff-necked, stubborn, contumacious.
* Prop.
* 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.
* 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;.
* Transf., of inanimate things: lapides scalpturae resistunt,Plin. 37, 7, 30, § 104; in comp., id. 19, 7, 35, § 117.

s. TLL