obstinate 
I have known great cures done l>y uluiiniiti' n-M.lntions 
of drinking no wine. Kir H'. Temple. 
3. Not easily controlled or removed; unyield- 
ing to treatment : as, an obstinate cough ; an 
ulisliiifite headache. 
Disgust conceal'd 
Is oftentimes proof of wisdom, when the fault 
Is obstinate, and cure beyond our reach. 
I'mr/rr, Task, ill. 40. 
= Syn. 1. Ob*Hnnlr,NlnM>urn, Intractable, Ite.fractory , Cun- 
tumacitnu, pertinacious, headstrong, unyielding, dogged, 
wilful, persistent, liuinovalilf, inttexililc, linn, resolute. 
The first five words now imply a strong and vicious or 
disobedient refusal to yield, a resolute or unmanageable 
standing upon one's own will. Mtubbarn is strictly nega- 
tive: a stubborn child will not listen to advice or com- 
mands, but perhaps has no definite purpose of his own. 
ObetiiMte is active : the obftlnatii man will carry out his in- 
tention in spite of advice, remonstrance, appeals, or force. 
The last three of the italicized words imply disobedience to 
proper authority. Intractable, literally not to he drawn, 
handled, or governed, is negative ; so is refractory : both 
suggest sullcnness or perverseness ; refractory is more 
appropriate where resistance is physical : hence the ex- 
tension of the word to apply to metals. Contumacious 
combines pride, haughtiness, or insolence with disobedi- 
ence; in law it means wilfully disobedient to the orders 
of a court. 
Obstinate man, still to persist In his outrage ! 
VMnnith, (iood-natured Man, v. 
Cupid indeed Is obstinate and wild, 
A stubborn god ; but yet the god 's a child. 
Dryden, tr. of Ovid's Art of Love, 1. 7. 
I now condemn that pride which had made merefractory 
to the hand of correction. Goldsmith, Vicar, xviii. 
If he were contumacious, he might be excommunicated, 
or, in other words, be deprived of all civil rights and Im- 
prisoned for life. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., vi. 
obstinately (ob'sti-nat-li), adv. In an obsti- 
nate manner; with fixedness of purpose not to 
be shaken, or to be shaken with difficulty; stub- 
bornly ; pertinaciously. 
There is a credence in my heart, 
An esperance so obstinately strong, 
That doth invert the attest of eyes and ears. 
Shale., T. and C., v. 2. 121. 
For Vespasian himselfe, at the beginning of his empire, 
he was not so obstinately bent to obtaine vnreasonable 
matters. Str H. Savtte, tr. of Tacitus, p. 91. 
obstinateness (ob'sti-nat-nes), n. The quality 
of being obstinate ; obstinacy. 
An ill fashion of stiffness and inflexible obstinattneu, 
stubbornly refusing to stoop. 
It/i. Hull. Sermons, Rom. xli. 2. 
obstinationt (ob-sti-na'shon), n. [Early mod. 
E. obstynacyon, < OF. obstination, P. obstina- 
tion = Sp. obstinacion = Pg. obstinaqUo = It. 
ostinazionf, < L. obstinatio(n-), firmness, stub- 
bornness, < obstinare, set one's mind firmly 
upon, resolve upon : see obstinate."} Obstinate 
resistance to argument, persuasion, or entreaty; 
wilful pertinacity, especially iu an unreason- 
able or evil course ; stubbornness ; obstinacy. 
Jer. Taylor. 
Ood doth not charge angels in this text [Job iv. 18] with 
rebellion, or obstination, or any heinous crime, but only 
with folly, weakness, infirmity. Donne, Sermons, xxii. 
obstinedt (ob'stind), a. [As obstin(ate) + -ed 2 .] 
Hardened ; made obstinate or obdurate. 
You that doo shut your eyes against the rales 
Of glorious Light, which shineth in our dayes; 
Whose spirits, self-otettn'd in old musty Error, 
Repulse the Truth . . . 
Which day and night at your deaf Doors doth knock. 
Sylvester, tr. of Du BartA's Weeks, ii., The Magnificence. 
obstipatet (ob'sti-pat), v. t.; pret. and pp. obsti- 
pated, ppr. obstipating. [< ML. obstipatus, pp. 
of obstipare, stop up, < L. ob, against, + stipare, 
crowd: see constipate."] To stop up, as chinks. 
Bailey, 1731. 
obstipation (ob-sti-pa'shon), n. [< ML. as if 
*obntinntio(n-), < obstipare, stop up: see obsti- 
patc.} If. The act of stopping up, as a pas- 
sage. 2. In med., costiveness ; constipation. 
Structural affections of the Intestines are important, 
measurably or chiefly as giving rise to obstipation due to 
mechanical obstruction to the passage of the intestinal 
contents. Flint, Pract. of Med., p. 398. 
obstreperate (ob-strep'e-rat), v. i. ; pret. and 
pp. obntreperated, ppr. obstreperating. [< obstrep- 
er-ous + -ate 2 .] To make a loud, clamorous 
noise. 
Thump thump thump obstreperated the abbess 
of Andouillets, with the end of her gold-headed cane 
against the bottom of the calash. 
Sterne, Tristram Shandy, vii. 22. 
obstreperous (ob-strep'e-rus), a. [< LL. ob- 
strcptniH, clamorous, < L. obstrepere, clamor at, 
drown with clamor, < ob, before, upon, + stre- 
pcre, roar, rattle. Cf. itrrxtrt'iierous.'] Making 
a great noise or outcry ; clamorous ; vociferous ; 
noisy. 
Obstreperma carl ! 
If thy throat's tempest could o'erturn my house, 
What satisfaction were it for thy child? 
Fletcher and liouieii, .Maid in the Mill, iii. 1. 
4007 
He that speaks for himself, being a traitor, doth defend 
his treason ; thou art a capital obxtrepermw malefactor. 
Shift,;.!. Traitor, iii. 1. 
The sage retired, who spends alone his days, 
And Hies th' obstrejterowi voice of public praise. 
Crabbe, Works, I. 203. 
Many a dull Joke honored with much obstreperous fat- 
sided laughter. Irving, Knickerbocker, p. 394. 
= Svn. Tumultuous, boisterous, uproarious. 
obstreperously (ob-strep'e-rus-li), adv. In an 
obstreperous manner; loudly; clamorously; 
voeil'erouNly: as, to behave obstreperously. 
obstreperousness (ob-strep'e-rus-nes), n. The 
state or character of being obstreperous; cla- 
mor; rude outcry. 
A numerous crowd of silly women and young people, 
who seemed to be hugely taken and enamour'd with his ob- 
itreperousnem and undccent cants. 
Wood, Athenn Oxon.,II. 578. 
obstrictt (ob-strikf), a. [< L- obstrictus, pp. of 
ohstringere, bind about : see obstringe.] Bound- 
en; obliged. 
To whom he recogniseth hymself to be so moche Indebt- 
ed and obstricte that non of thise your difficulties shalbe 
the stop or let of this desired conjuncclou. 
State Paper*, i. 252. (HaOtwett.) 
obstriction (ob-strik'shon), n. [< L. as if *ob- 
strictio(n-), < ohstringere, pp. obstrictus, bind 
about, bind up: see obstringe. Cf. constriction, 
restriction.'] The condition of being bound or 
constrained; obligation. 
And hath full right to exempt 
Whom so it pleases him by choice 
From national obttrictiun. Milton, S. A., L 312. 
obstringet (ob-strinj'), v. t. [< L. obstringere, 
bind about,"close up by binding, < ob, before, 
about, + stringere, strain : see strain 2 , strin- 
gent.} To bind; oblige; lay under obligation. 
How much he ... was and is obstringed and bound to 
your Grace. 
Gardiner, in Pococke's Records of Reformation, I. 95. 
((Encyc. Diet.) 
obstrppulous (ob-strop'u-lus), a. A vulgar cor- 
ruption of obstreperous. 
I heard him very obstropulous in his sleep. 
Smollett, Roderick Random, viil. 
obstruct (ob-strukf), v. t. [< L. obstructs, 
pp. of obstruere (> It. ostruire= Pg. Sp. obstruir 
= F. obstruer), build before or against, block 
up, obstruct, < ob, before, -t- struere, build : see 
structure. Cf. construct, instruct, etc.] 1. To 
block up; stop up or close, as a way or pas- 
sage; fill with obstacles or impediments that 
prevent passing. 
Obstruct the mouth of hell 
For ever, and seal up his ravenous jaws. 
Milton, P. L, x. 636. 
Tis he th' obstructed paths of sound shall clear, 
And bid new music charm th' unfolding ear. 
Pope, Messiah, 1. 41. 
2. To hinder from passing; stop; impede in 
any way ; check. 
From hence no cloud, or, to obstruct his sight, 
Star interposed, however small, he sees. 
MUtoti, P. L., v. 257. 
I don't know if it be just thus to obstruct the union of 
man and wife. Goldsmith, Vicar, xxviii. 
On the new stream rolls, 
Whatever rocks obstruct. 
Browning, By the Fireside. 
3. To retard; interrupt; delay: as, progress 
is often obstructed by difficulties, though not 
entirely stopped. 
I confess the continual Wars between Tonquin and Co- 
chin China were enough to obstruct the designs of making 
a Voyage to this last. Dumpier, Voyages, II. i. 103. 
To obstruct process, in law, to hinder or delay inten- 
tionally the officers of the law in the performance of their 
duties : a punishable offense at law. Syn. To bar, bar- 
ricade, blockade, arrest, clog, choke, dam up, embarrass. 
See obstacle. 
obstruct!, . [< obstruct, v.] An obstruction. 
[Rare.] 
Oct. I begg'd 
His pardon for return. 
Cat. Which soon he granted. 
Being an obstruct [in some editions abstract} 'tween his lust 
and him. Shale.. A. and C., iii. 6. 61. 
obstructer (ob-struk'ter), n. One who or that 
which obstructs, hinders, or retards. Also 06- 
structor. 
obstruction (ob-struk'shon), . [= F. obstruc- 
tion = Sp. obstntceion = Pg. obstrucqSo = It. 
nxtntzione, < L. obstructio(n-), a building before 
or against, a blocking up, < obstruere, pp. ob- 
structus, build before or against, obstruct : see 
obstruct.} 1. The act of obstructing, blocking 
up, or impeding passage, or the fact of being 
obstructed ; the act of impeding passage or 
movement; a stopping or retarding: as, the 06- 
uli-itction of a road or thoroughfare by felled 
obstupefaction 
trees ; the obxtrin-lion of one's progress or move- 
niriits. 2. That with which a pannage ix block- 
ed or progress or action of any kind hindered or 
impeded; anything that stops, clones, or bare 
the way ; obstacle ; impediment ; hindrance : an, 
obstructions to navigation; an obstruction to 
progress. 
Thli is evident to any formal capacity ; there U no ob- 
struction In this. Shot., T. N., U. 5. 129. 
A popular assembly free from obntructitmt. Swfl. 
In this country for the last few years the government 
bag been the chief obstruction to the common weal. 
Emerson, Affairs in Kansas. 
3f. Stoppage of the vital function ; death. 
Ay, but to die, and go we know not where ; 
To lie in cold obstruction, and to rot. 
Ska*., M. for M., ill. 1. 119. 
4. Systematic and persistent factious opposi- 
tion, especially in a legislative body; factious 
attempts to hinder, delay, defeat, or annoy. 
Every form of revolt or obstruction to this bare majority 
is a crime of unpardonable magnitude. 
Fortnightly Ret., N. S., XL. 141. 
Obstruction had been freely practised to defeat not only 
bills restraining the liberty of the subject in Ireland, but 
many other measures. 
J. Bnjce, New Princeton Rev., III. 52. 
= Syn. 2. Difficulty, Impediment, etc. (see obstacle), bar, 
barrier. 
obstructionism (ob-struk'shon-izm), . [< ob- 
struction + -ism. 1 } The principles and prac- 
tices of an obstructionist, especially in a legis- 
lative body ; systematic or persistent obstruc- 
tion or opposition, as to progress or change. 
obstructionist (ob-struk'shon-ist), . [< 06- 
struction + -ist.] One who factiously opposes 
and hinders the action of others ; specifically, 
one who systematically, persistently, and fac- 
tiously hinders the transaction of business in 
a legislative assembly; an obstructive; a fili- 
buster. 
In his [Gallatin's] efforts this year and in subsequent 
years to cut down appropriations for the army, navy, and 
civil service, he was rarely successful, and earned much 
ill-will as an obstructionist. //. Adams, Oallatin, p. 180. 
obstructive (ob-struk'tiv), a. and n. [= F. 06- 
structif= 8p. Pg. obstructivo = It. ostruttivo, < 
L. obstructus, pp. of obstruere, obstruct : see 06- 
struct.~] I. a. 1. Serving or intended to ob- 
struct, hinder, delay, or annoy: as, obstructive 
parliamentary proceedings. 
The North, impetuous, rides upon the clouds, 
Dispensing round the Heav'ns obstructive gloom. 
Glover, On Sir Isaac Newton. 
Within the walls of Parliament they began those obstruc- 
tive tactics which afterwards deprived Parliament of no 
small share of its high repute and of its ancient authority. 
Quarterly Rev., CLXIII. 27. 
2. Given to obstructing or impeding: as, an 
obstructive official. 
The Cadi and other Turkish officials were Insolent and 
obstructive, so I have got them In irons in the jail, with six 
of my force doing duty over them. 
Arch. Forbes, Souvenirs of some Continents, p. 111. 
II. n. One who or that which obstructs, (a) 
One who or that which opposes progress, reform, or 
change. 
Episcopacy . . . was instituted as an obstntctice to the 
diffusion of schism and heresy. 
Jer. Taylor, Works (ed. 1835), II. 149. 
" Incompetent obstructives" are no doubt very objection- 
able people, but they do less injury to any cause than is 
done by indiscreet advocates. 
Nineteenth Century, XIX. 723. 
(6) One who factiously seeks to obstruct, hinder, or delay 
the transaction of business, especially legislative business. 
Obstructively (ob-struk'tiv-li), arfr. In an ob- 
structive manner; by way of obstruction. 
obstructiveness (ob-struk'tiv-nes), . Ten- 
dency to obstruct or oppose ; persistent oppo- 
sition, as to the transaction of business; ob- 
structive conduct or tactics. 
obstructor (qb-struk'tor), n. [< L. as if 'ab- 
stractor, < obstruere, pp. obstructus, obstruct: 
see obstruct.'] Same as obstructer. 
One of the principal leading Men In that Insurrection, 
and likewise one of the chief Obstructors of the Union. 
falter, Chronicles, p. 552. 
obstruent (ob'stri?-ent), a. and . [< L. 06- 
stnten(t-)s, ppr. of obstruere, obstruct: see 06- 
struct.] I. a. Obstructive; impeding. 
n. n. Anything that obstructs; especially, 
anything that blocks up the natural passages 
of the body. 
obstupefacient (ob-stu-pe-fa'shient), a. [< L. 
obstupefacie(t-)s, ppr. of obstiipefacere, stu- 
pefy: see obstupefi/.'] Narcotic; stupefying. 
obstupefactiont (ob-stu-pe-fak'shon ), n. [= It. 
oxtiipcfazioiii; < L. as if'*obKtlljii-J'iirtin(tl-), < 
ttbstitfiefacere, pp. obstupefactus, astonish, stu- 
