The refusal or inten-tlonal omission of a person who has been duly cited before a court to appear and defend the charge laid against him, or, if he is duly before the court, to obey some lawful order or direction made in the cause. In tbe former case it is called “presumed” contumacy; In the latter, “actual.” The term is chiefly nsed in ecclesiastical law. See 3 Curt. Ecc. 1
Source: Black's Law Dictionary 2nd Ed (1910)
