pervicāx

1. Pervicacia and perseverantia denote adherence to what is once resolved upon as a virtue; pervicacia (from vincere? vigere?) has its foundation in natural energy of disposition; perseverantia, in earnestness of character, formed by cultivation; whereas pertinacia and contumacia as a fault; pertinacia has its foundation in a stiff-necked adherence to what is once resolved upon, like obstinacy and stubbornness, in opp. to condescension; contumacia (from temere, contemnere) in a haughty maintenance of one’s free-will, even against proper and legitimate superiority,³ like insolence and refractoriness, in opp. to complaisance, obsequium. Tac. Ann. iv. 20. Hist. iv. 74. Accius apud Non. Tu pertinacem esse, Antiloche, hanc prædicas, ego pervicaciam esse aio et a me uti volo, etc. Cic. inv. ii. 54. Unicuique virtuti finitimum vitium reperietur, ut pertinacia, quæ finitima perseverantiæ est: comp. with Balb. 27. Marc. 10. 2. Pervicacia, etc. denote persisting in a resolution once made; destinatio and obstinatio are more immediately connected with the making of the resolution; destinatio, the making of an unalterable resolution, decidedness; obstinatio, adhering to it in spite of insurmountable obstacles and reasonable remonstrances, obstinacy. (iv. 176.)

³ [But, adhibere liberam contumaciam. Cic. Tus. 1, 29.]