Ob"sti*nate (?), a. [L. obstinatus, p.p. of obstinare to set about a thing with firmness, to persist in; ob (see Ob-) + a word from the root of stare to stand. See Stand, and cf.Destine.]

1.

Pertinaciously adhering to an opinion, purpose, or course; persistent; not yielding to reason, arguments, or other means; stubborn; pertinacious; -- usually implying unreasonableness.

I have known great cures done by obstinate resolution of drinking no wine. Sir W. Temple.

No ass so meek, no ass so obstinate. Pope.

Of sense and outward things. Wordsworth.

2.

Not yielding; not easily subdued or removed; as, obstinate fever; obstinate obstructions.

Syn. -- Stubborn; inflexible; immovable; firm; pertinacious; persistent; headstrong; opinionated; unyielding; refractory; contumacious. See Stubborn.

-- Ob"sti*nate*ly, adv. -- Ob"sti*nate*ness, n.

© Webster 1913.