refractory
Definition from Wiktionary, the free dictionary
Contents
English[edit]
Etymology[edit]
From Latin refractārius (“obstinate”), from refractus, past participle of refringere (“to break up”). Originally refractary reanalysed after other adjectives in -ory
Pronunciation[edit]
Adjective[edit]
refractory (comparative more refractory, superlative most refractory)
- Obstinate and unruly; strongly opposed to something.
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1787, Alexander Hamilton, “No. 16”, in The Federalist, published 1863, page 103:
- […] in most instances attempts to coerce the refractory and disobedient have been the signals of bloody wars, […]
- 1836, Charles Dickens, The Pickwick Papers, Chapter 26,
- Mr. Weller knocked at the door, and after a pretty long interval—occupied by the party without, in whistling a tune, and by the party within, in persuading a refractory flat candle to allow itself to be lighted […]
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- Not affected by great heat.
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1855, Frederick Overman, A Treatise on Metallurgy[1], page 315:
- Pure lime is extremely refractory, but readily fusible if any silex is brought in contact with it; […]
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- (medicine) Difficult to treat.
- 1949, Albert Fields and John Hoesley, "Neck and Shoulder Pain", Calif. Med., 70(6):478–482.,
- Many of the vague and refractory cases of neck and shoulder pain and of migraine may be due to cervical disc disease.
- 1990, H. A. Ring et al, "Vigabatrin: rational treatment for chronic epilepsy", J. Neurol. Neurosurg.Psychiatry, 53(12):1051–1055,
- In 33 adult patients with long standing refractory epilepsy on treatment with one or two standard anti-convulsant drugs,
- 1949, Albert Fields and John Hoesley, "Neck and Shoulder Pain", Calif. Med., 70(6):478–482.,
- (biology) Incapable of registering a reaction or stimulus.
- 1959, Nobusada Ishiko and Werner R. Loewenstein, "Electrical output of a receptor membrane", Science, 1959, 130:1405-6,
- The production of a generator potential leaves a refractory state in the receptor membrane […]
- 1970, S.S. Barold et al, "Chest wall stimulation in evaluation of patients with implanted ventricular-inhibited demand pacemakers", Br. Heart J., 32(6):783–789,
- The […] delivery of external stimuli […] delineates the pacemaker refractory period after the emission of a pacing stimulus and after the sensing of a spontaneous beat.
- 1959, Nobusada Ishiko and Werner R. Loewenstein, "Electrical output of a receptor membrane", Science, 1959, 130:1405-6,
Synonyms[edit]
Translations[edit]
Obstinate; strongly opposed
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not affected by great heat
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medicine: difficult to heal
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biology: incapable of registering a reaction or stimulus.
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Derived terms[edit]
Derived terms
Related terms[edit]
Noun[edit]
refractory (plural refractories)
- A material or piece of material, such as a brick, that has a very high melting point.
Translations[edit]
material with a high melting point
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External links[edit]
- refractory at OneLook Dictionary Search