Contumacious, a.
Etymology: [L. contumax, -acis. See Contumacy.]
1. Exhibiting contumacy; contemning authority; obstinate; perverse; stubborn; disobedient. There is another very, efficacious method for subding the most obstinate, contumacious sinner. Hammond.
2. (Law)
Willfully disobedient to the summous or prders of a court. Blackstone.
Syn. -- Stubborn; obstinate; obdurate; disobedient; perverse; unyielding; headstrong. -- Con`tu*ma"cious*ly, adv. -- Con`tu*ma"cious*ness, n.
Shades of meaning
Fernald has no entry of its own for contumacious; he lists it under obstinate, rebellious.
Where he writes about it:
Contumacious refers to a proud and insolent defiance of authority, as of the summons of a court. — from obstinate
A contumacious act or spirit is contemptuous as well as defiant. — from rebellious
Synonyms
obstinaterebelliousdecideddetermineddisobedientdoggedfirmfixedheadstrongheadyimmovableindomitableinflexibleinsubordinateintractablemulishmutinousobdurateopinionatedpersistentpertinaciousrefractoryresoluteresolvedseditiousstubbornunconquerableuncontrollableunflinchingungovernableunmanageableunyielding