Pertinacious

Part of speech: adjective

Pronunciation: /ˌpɜːtɪˈneɪʃəs/

Definitions

1. Stubbornly adhering to a purpose or opinion despite difficulty or opposition; holding firmly to something with unyielding determination
2. Holding firmly to a course of action or belief with unwavering resolve that resists all attempts at dissuasion or change
3. Demonstrating stubborn and relentless persistence in pursuing one's goals or convictions despite obstacles or contrary pressure

Etymology: Latin "pertinax" combined "per-", meaning "very" or "thoroughly," with "tenax," meaning "tenacious" or "holding fast." A thoroughly tenacious person was one who clung to a course of action or opinion and refused to let go, and that stubbornness was not always praised. The Romans used the root in "tenere," "to hold," which also gives English "tenant," "tenure" and "retain." The word passed into English by way of Old French "pertinace," which kept the sense of obstinate persistence. English then built the adjective "pertinacious" by adding the "-ious" suffix, the same ending found in "ambitious" and "gracious," to the noun "pertinacy." The result is a word that means exactly what its parts promise: holding on very firmly.

Synonyms: persistent, tenacious, stubborn, unyielding, dogged

Antonyms: yielding, submissive, flexible, vacillating, indecisive