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obstreperous

 - 3 dictionary results

ob⋅strep⋅er⋅ous

  [uhb-strep-er-uhs]
Use obstreperous in a Sentence
–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  [uhb-strep-uh-ros-i-tee] , noun

Synonyms:
1. uncontrolled, refractory.

Antonyms:
1. obedient. 2. calm.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To obstreperous
ob·strep·er·ous   (ŏb-strěp'ər-əs, əb-)   
adj.  

  1. Noisily and stubbornly defiant.

  2. 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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Word Origin & History

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.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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