stiff-necked
Meaning
stubborn and arrogant; unwilling to change one's opinion or attitude.
(archaic) haughty and obstinate.
Structure
Usage
his stiff-necked refusal to consider new evidence undermined the negotiations.
the manager was too stiff-necked to admit that the old policy was failing.
the prophet condemned the stiff-necked people for their disobedience.
Etymology
the compound "stiff-necked" is a calque, or literal translation, of a hebrew idiom found in biblical texts, describing a stubborn ox that refuses to turn its head when guided. the old english elements "stif" (rigid) and "hnecca" (neck) were combined with the adjectival suffix "-ed" to create a vivid metaphor for obstinacy. this imagery passed directly into english via early bible translations, carrying the sense of an unyielding, haughty disposition. over time, it evolved from a specific scriptural term into a more general descriptor for arrogant inflexibility.
Analysis
- stiff: from old english stif meaning "rigid, inflexible"; germanic origin. - neck: from old english hnecca meaning "the nape, back of the neck"; germanic origin. - ed: a suffix forming adjectives from nouns or other adjectives, indicating possession of a quality.