obstinate (adj.)

"stubborn in adhering to one's own course, unyielding," late 14c., from Latin obstinatus "resolute, resolved, determined, inflexible, stubborn," past participle of obstinare "persist, stand stubbornly, set one's mind on," from ob "by" (see ob-) + stinare (related to stare "stand"), from PIE *ste-no-, from root *sta- "to stand, make or be firm." Related: Obstinately.

also from late 14c.

Entries linking to obstinate

obstinacy (n.)

late 14c., obstinacie, "hardness of heart, inflexibility of temper or purpose," from Medieval Latin obstinatia, from obstinatus "resolute, inflexible, stubborn" (see obstinate).

obstinance (n.)

early 15c., obstinaunce, "non-compliance, self-willed persistence," from Medieval Latin obstinantia, from obstinatus "resolved, determined, resolute" (see obstinate). Earlier was obstinacioun "determination, resolution" (mid-14c.), from Old French.

ostinato

ob-

*sta-

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Trends of obstinate

adapted from books.google.com/ngrams/. Ngrams are probably unreliable.

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contrary

mid-14c., "opposite, opposed, at the opposite point or in the opposite direction; extremely unlike, most unlike," from Anglo-French contrarie, Old French contrarie, and directly from Latin contrarius "opposite, opposed; contrary, reverse," from contra "against" (see contra). Mean

obdurate

mid-15c., "stubborn, inexorable, unyielding; hardened," especially against moral influences; "stubbornly wicked," from Latin obduratus "hardened," past participle of obdurare "harden, render hard; be hard or hardened; hold out, persist, endure," in Church Latin "to harden the hea

stubborn

late 14c., "obstinate, refractory," a word of persistently difficult etymology. First in literary use out of the mouth of Chaucer's Dame Alice: I was yong and ful of ragerye, Stibourne and strong and ioly as a pye. [Wife of Bath's Prologue and Tale] But a Simon Stubourne turns

refractory

"stubborn, obstinate, perverse, resisting, unyielding," 1610s (earlier refractorious, 1550s, refractary, c. 1600), from Latin...refractarius "obstinate, stubborn," from past participle stem of refringere "to break up" (see refraction)....

self-willed

"obstinate, unmindful of the will or wishes of others," late 15c., from self-wille "obstinate or perverse insistence on one's...

rebel

"resisting an established or rightful government or law, insurrectionist; lawless," from Old French rebelle "stubborn, obstinate...

recusant

"obstinate in refusal," 1610s, from Latin recusantem (nominative recusans) "refusing to obey," present participle of recusare...

docile

late 15c. (Caxton), "easily taught, quick to learn," from Italian or French docile, from Latin docilis "easily taught," from docere "to show, teach, cause to know," originally "make to appear right," causative of decere "be seemly, fitting," from PIE root *dek- "to take, accept."

persevere

"to persist in what one has undertaken, to pursue steadily a design or course," late 14c., perseveren, from Old French perseverer "continue, persevere, endure" and directly from Latin perseverare "continue steadfastly, persist," from persevereus "very strict, earnest," from per "

preserve

late 14c., preserven, "keep safe or free from harm," also "act so as to insure that something does not occur," from Anglo-French preservare, Old French preserver, Medieval Latin preservare "keep, preserve," all from Late Latin praeservare "guard beforehand," from Latin prae "befo

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updated on July 26, 2019

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