pertinacious
[pur-tn-ey-shuhs]
- holding tenaciously to a purpose, course of action, or opinion; resolute.
- stubborn or obstinate.
- extremely or objectionably persistent: a pertinacious salesman from whom I could not escape.
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Origin of pertinacious
Synonyms
See more synonyms for on Thesaurus.comDictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Related Words
attentive, determined, dogged, persistent, tenacious, insistent, perverse, stubborn, firm, headstrong, inflexible, obstinate, resolute, unshakableExamples from the Web for pertinacious
Historical Examples
And it was the presence of that pertinacious ship-chandler which had started them.
'Twixt Land & SeaJoseph Conrad
Behind these was the agent, punctual and pertinacious, who had come for the rent.
The Paliser caseEdgar Saltus
And he escaped from pertinacious Mr. Dawson with some alacrity.
Half a HeroAnthony Hope
Again they laughed at the child's pertinacious fancy for a night-ramble.
Short Story WritingCharles Raymond Barrett
"They are not the only pertinacious ones," the priest replied.
The Art of DisappearingJohn Talbot Smith
pertinacious
- doggedly resolute in purpose or belief; unyielding
- stubbornly persistent
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Word Origin
C17: from Latin pertināx, from per- (intensive) + tenāx clinging, from tenēre to hold
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for pertinacious
adj.
1620s, from pertinacy (late 14c.; see pertinacity) + -ous. Related: Pertinaciously.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper