obdurate
UK[ˈɒbdjʊrət]US[ˈɑːbdərət]
adj
stubbornly refusing to change one's opinion or course of action.
adj
resistant to persuasion or softening influences.
Morpheme Breakdown
ob
dur
ate
ob
against
dur
hard
ate
adjective suffix
Etymology
the word 'obdurate' originates from the latin verb 'obdurare', meaning "to harden". this verb itself is a compound of the prefix 'ob-', which intensifies the meaning, and the root 'durus', meaning "hard". the term entered middle english in the 15th century via the latin past participle 'obduratus', carrying the sense of being hardened against moral influence or persuasion. thus, the literal notion of physical hardness evolved into the modern abstract meaning of stubbornness and unyielding resolve.
Analysis
Structure: ob (against) + dur (hard) + ate (adjective suffix)
- ob: a latin prefix meaning "against, toward, or in the way of".
- dur: from latin 'durus', meaning "hard".
- ate: a latin-derived suffix used to form adjectives meaning "characterized by or having the quality of".
Examples
the obdurate child refused to eat his vegetables.
despite the evidence, he remained obdurate in his beliefs.
her obdurate silence made negotiations impossible.