† ˈcontumax, a. Obs.
Also 4–5 contimax, -ymax.
[a. L. contumāx insolent, obstinate, showing contempt of court (also a technical word of criminal law in Fr.), f. con- prefix and -āx suffix (-acious); the radical part tum- is generally referred to tumē-re to swell, but some would connect it with tem-n-ĕre to despise.]
= contumacious.
| c 1386 Chaucer Pars. T. ¶328 Contimax is he þat þorugh his indignacioun is agains euerych auctorite..of hem þat been his souerayns. c 1450 Henryson Mor. Fab. 35 The Court is called, and yee are Contumax. 1483 Caxton Gold. Leg. 248/1 Brynge hyder a bedde of yron that laurence contymax may lye theron. 1563–87 Foxe A. & M. (1684) III. 555 In the end..was that worthy Martyr decreed Contumax, that is, sturdily, frowardly, and wilfully absent. 1640–1 Kirkcudbr. War-Comm. Min. Bk. (1855) 154 They shall be halden as contumax and censurit thairfore. |