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obstinacymore about obstinacy

obstinacy


  2  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Obstinacy  \Ob"sti*na*cy\,  n.  [See  {Obstinate}.] 
  1.  A  fixedness  in  will  opinion,  or  resolution  that  can  not 
  be  shaken  at  all  or  only  with  great  difficulty;  firm  and 
  usually  unreasonable  adherence  to  an  opinion,  purpose,  or 
  system;  unyielding  disposition;  stubborness;  pertinacity; 
  persistency;  contumacy. 
 
  You  do  not  well  in  obstinacy  To  cavil  in  the  course 
  of  this  contract.  --Shak. 
 
  To  shelter  their  ignorance,  or  obstinacy,  under  the 
  obscurity  of  their  terms.  --Locke. 
 
  2.  The  quality  or  state  of  being  difficult  to  remedy, 
  relieve,  or  subdue;  as  the  obstinacy  of  a  disease  or 
  evil. 
 
  Syn:  Pertinacity;  firmness;  resoluteness;  inflexibility; 
  persistency;  stubbornness;  perverseness;  contumacy. 
 
  Usage:  {Obstinacy},  {Pertinacity}.  Pertinacity  denotes  great 
  firmness  in  holding  to  a  thing  aim  etc  Obstinacy  is 
  great  firmness  in  holding  out  against  persuasion, 
  attack,  etc  The  former  consists  in  adherence,  the 
  latter  in  resistance.  An  opinion  is  advocated  with 
  pertinacity  or  defended  with  obstinacy.  Pertinacity  is 
  often  used  in  a  good  sense  obstinacy  generally  in  a 
  bad  one  ``In  this  reply  was  included  a  very  gross 
  mistake,  and  if  with  pertinacity  maintained,  a  capital 
  error.''  --Sir  T.  Browne.  ``Every  degree  of  obstinacy 
  in  youth  is  one  step  to  rebellion.''  --South. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  obstinacy 
  n  1:  the  trait  of  being  difficult  to  handle  or  overcome  [syn:  {stubbornness}, 
  {obstinance},  {mulishness}] 
  2:  resolute  adherence  to  your  own  ideas  or  desires  [syn:  {stubbornness}, 
  {bullheadedness},  {obstinance},  {pigheadedness},  {self-will}] 




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