CONTUMACIOUS, adjective [Latin , to swell.] 1. Literally, swelling against; haughty. Hence, obstinate; perverse; stubborn; inflexible; unyielding; disobedient; as a contumacious child. 2. In law, wilfully disobedient to the orders of a court.
Source: Webster's 1828 American Dictionary ↗ · public-domain · returned verbatim, no AI