obstreperous - Definitions from Dictionary.com

6 results for: obstreperous

Browse Nearby Entries

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

ob·strep·er·ous

Audio Help [uh

b-strep-er-uh

s] Pronunciation Key

–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

Audio Help [uh

b-strep-uh-ros-i-tee] Pronunciation Key, noun

—Synonyms 1. uncontrolled, refractory.

—Antonyms 1. obedient. 2. calm.

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
obstreperous

To learn more about obstreperous visit Britannica.com

American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

ob·strep·er·ous Audio Help (ŏb-strěp'ər-əs, əb-) Pronunciation Key
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.

(Download Now or Buy the Book)

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
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.

WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

obstreperous
adjective
1.	noisily and stubbornly defiant; "obstreperous boys"
2.	boisterously and noisily aggressive; "kept up an obstreperous clamor"

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

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.

Dictionary.com Word of the Day Archive - Cite This Source - Share This

obstreperous

obstreperous was Word of the Day on May 28, 2001.

Dictionary.com Word of the Day

Browse Nearby Entries: