Thrawn

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. Stubbornly contrary and difficult to persuade, especially in a sulky or perverse way ; bent, twisted or misshapen out of its natural form
2. Obstinate and wilfully awkward in attitude, refusing to yield to reason ; crooked, warped or contorted in physical shape
3. Headstrong and perversely unyielding in disposition ; having a twisted, distorted or irregular form, as of a bent branch or limb

Etymology: Stubbornness and crookedness turn out to be the same idea in this word. Scots "thrawn" descends from Middle English "thrawen", meaning to twist, which traces back to Old English "þrawan", to turn or twist. That same root lies behind modern "throw", which originally meant to twist or turn before it came to mean hurling something through the air. The move from a bent object to a bent temper is a short step. A person who is thrawn is twisted in disposition, contrary and unyielding, and the word can also describe a sour, screwed-up expression. It survives mostly in Scots, where it is still used of a stubborn child or an obstinate animal.

Synonyms: obstinate, stubborn, perverse, contrary

Antonyms: compliant, agreeable