Stubbornly disobedient; willfully refusing to obey authority or comply with rules. Describes deliberate and persistent defiance.
From Latin 'contumax' meaning 'stubborn, insolent,' from 'con-' (intensive) and possibly 'tumere' (to swell with pride). The word suggests someone whose pride has 'swelled up' to the point of defying authority.
Think 'con-TU-macious' like 'con-TWO-macious' - so stubborn they say 'no' twice to everything! The 'tumac' part sounds like 'stomach' - these people have the stomach to defy authority repeatedly.
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