Vocabularium

Saturday February 24, 2007 at 10:35 am

This word is my friend. We’ve known each other a very long time.

recalcitrant (re·cal·ci·trant): / ri KAL si truhnt /
adjective

(1) resisting control or authority; obstinately defiant of restraint; stubbornly disobedient or noncompliant
(2) difficult to manage, operate, deal with, handle, or treat

noun

(1) someone who adamantly or stubbornly resists control or authority; a recalcitrant person

[From Latin recalcitrant-, stem of recalcitrans meaning "to be stubbornly disobedient," the present participle of recalcitrare meaning "to kick back" (used in reference to horses), from calcitrare meaning "to kick (with the heels)," from calc-, derivative of calx meaning "heel."]

Usage: [via] I believe George Bush proffered the forced resignation of Donald Rumsfeld to show he finally heard the recalcitrant voice of the American people.

jason

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