obstinacy

English

Alternative forms

Etymology

From obstinate +‎ -cy.

Pronunciation

  • (General American) IPA(key): /ˈɑbstɪnəsi/
  • (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ˈɒbstɪnəsi/
  • Audio (US):(file)
  • Hyphenation: ob‧stin‧a‧cy

Noun

obstinacy (countable and uncountable, plural obstinacies)

  1. The state, or an act, of stubbornness or doggedness.
    He finished only through a mixture of determined obstinacy and ingenuity.
    • 1839, Charles Dickens, chapter 44, in Oliver Twist:
      "I don't know where," replied the girl.
      "Then I do," said Sikes, more in the spirit of obstinacy than because he had any real objection.
    • 1877, Leo Tolstoy (author), David Magarshack (translator), Anna Karenina, part 6, ch 12,
      His hand closed, he drew back, and his face assumed a still more stubborn expression.
      "For you it's a matter of obstinacy," she said, looking intently at him and suddenly finding the right word for the expression of his face which exasperated her so much.
  2. (countable, collective) A group of bison; the collective noun for bison.

Synonyms

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See also

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