Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “contumacious” come from?

Contumacious derives from Latin contumax, formed from the prefix con- (with, together) and the adjective-forming suffix -ax (inclined to).

contumacious (English): Contemptuous of authority; willfully disobedient;...

Definitions

  1. Contemptuous of authority; willfully disobedient;...

Ancestry of “contumacious”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Latincontumāx—
2Latincontemnō—
3Latincom-allomorph of con-
4Latincon-Used in compounds to indicate a being or bringing...
5Latincumwith, along with; at; -fold
6Old LatincomAlternative form of cum
7Proto-Italickomwith, along, at
8Proto-Indo-Europeanḱómbeside, near, by, with
9Proto-Indo-EuropeanḱeDeictic particle, here; Post-positional...
10Middle Englishkyt—
11Germankitt—
12Old High Germankuti—
13Proto-West Germanickwidugum, resin
14Proto-Germanickweduzresin
15Proto-Indo-Europeangʷet-resin, gum; to say, speak
16Proto-Indo-Europeangū-to bend; curve; arch; vault; to bow, bend, arch,...

Words derived from “contumacious”

  • contumaciously
  • contumaciousness
Every word from Proto-Indo-European gū- →