English Explanatory Dictionary

obdurate

English dictionary entry

Meanings

adj
  1. Stubbornly persistent, generally in wrongdoing; refusing to reform or repent.
  2. Physically hardened, toughened.
  3. Hardened against feeling; hard-hearted.
verb
  1. To harden; to obdure.

Pronunciation

/ˈɒbdʒʊɹɪt/ /ˈɒbdjʊɹɪt/ /ˈɒbdʒəɹɪt/ /-ət/ /ˈɑbd(j)ʊɹɪt/ /ˈɑbd(j)əɹɪt/ en-us-obdurate.ogg

Word forms

obdurate more obdurate most obdurate obdurates obdurating obdurated

Etymology

First attested in the 1450s, in Middle English; inherited from Middle English obdurat(e), borrowed from Latin obdūrātus (“hardened”), perfect passive participle of obdūrō (“to harden”) (see -ate (adjective-forming suffix)), from ob- (“against”) + dūrō (“to harden, render hard”), from dūrus (“hard”). Compare durable, endure.

Synonyms

hardened hard-hearted impertinent intractable unrepentant unyielding recalcitrant headstrong obdure

Related words

durable duration during endurance endure enduring

Derived words

obduracy obdurately obdurateness unobdurate
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