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intractable - 5 dictionary results

in⋅trac⋅ta⋅ble

   [in-trak-tuh-buhl]
–adjective
1. not easily controlled or directed; not docile or manageable; stubborn; obstinate: an intractable disposition.
2. (of things) hard to shape or work with: an intractable metal.
3. hard to treat, relieve, or cure: the intractable pain in his leg.
–noun
4. an intractable person.
Origin:
1535–45; < L intractābilis. See in- 3 , tractable
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
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in·trac·ta·ble     (ĭn-trāk'tə-bəl)  Pronunciation Key 
adj.  
  1. Difficult to manage or govern; stubborn. See Synonyms at unruly.
  2. Difficult to mold or manipulate: intractable materials.
  3. Difficult to alleviate, remedy, or cure: intractable pain.

in·trac'ta·bil'i·ty, in·trac'ta·ble·ness n., in·trac'ta·bly adv.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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intractable 
1545, from L. intractabilis "not to be handled," from in- "not" + tractabilis (see tractable).

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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intractable

adjective
not tractable; difficult to manage or mold; "an intractable disposition"; "intractable pain"; "the most intractable issue of our era"; "intractable metal" [ant: keep away] 

WordNet® 3.0, © 2006 by Princeton University.
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Intractable

In*tract"a*ble\, a. [L. intractabilis: cf. F. intraitable, formerly also intractable. See In- not, and Tractable.] Not tractable; not easily governed, managed, or directed; indisposed to be taught, disciplined, or tamed; violent; stubborn; obstinate; refractory; as, an intractable child.

Syn: Stubborn; perverse; obstinate; refractory; cross; unmanageable; unruly; headstrong; violent; ungovernable; unteachable. -- In*tract"a*ble*ness, n. -- In*tract"a*bly, adv.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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