obstreperous definition | Dictionary.com

ob⋅strep⋅er⋅ous

[uh

b-strep-er-uh

–adjective

1.	resisting control or restraint in a difficult manner; unruly.

2.	noisy, clamorous, or boisterous: obstreperous children.

Origin:
1590–1600; < L obstreperus clamorous, akin to obstrepere to make a noise at (ob- ob- + strepere to rattle); see -ous

Related forms:

ob⋅strep⋅er⋅ous⋅ly, adverb

ob⋅strep⋅er⋅ous⋅ness, ob⋅strep⋅e⋅ros⋅i⋅ty [uh

b-strep-uh-ros-i-tee]

, noun

Synonyms:
1. uncontrolled, refractory.

Antonyms:
1. obedient. 2. calm.

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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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Link To obstreperous

ob·strep·er·ous (ŏb-strěp'ər-əs, əb-)

adj.

Noisily and stubbornly defiant.
Aggressively boisterous.

[From Latin obstreperus, noisy, from obstrepere, to make a noise against : ob-, against; see ob- + strepere, to make a noise (of imitative origin).]
ob·strep'er·ous·ly adv., ob·strep'er·ous·ness n.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Obstreperous

Ob*strep"er*ous\, a. [L. obstreperus, from obstrepere to make a noise at; ob (see Ob-) + strepere to make a noise.] Attended by, or making, a loud and tumultuous noise; clamorous; noisy; vociferous. "The obstreperous city." --Wordsworth. "Obstreperous approbation." --Addison.

Beating the air with their obstreperous beaks. --B. Jonson. -- Ob*strep"er*ous*ly, adv. -- Ob*strep"er*ous*ness, n.

obstreperous

1600, from L. obstreperus "clamorous," from obstrepere "drown with noise, oppose noisily," from ob "against" + strepere "make a noise," from PIE *strep-, said to be imitative.

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