Stub″born (?), a. [OE. stoburn, stiborn; probably fr. AS. styb a stub. See Stub.] Firm as a stub or stump; stiff; unbending; unyielding; persistent; hence, unreasonably obstinate in will or opinion; not yielding to reason or persuasion; refractory; harsh; — said of persons and things; as, stubborn wills; stubborn ore; a stubborn oak; as stubborn as a mule. “Bow, stubborn knees.” Shak. “Stubborn attention and more than common application.” Locke. “Stubborn Stoics.” Swift.
And I was young and full of ragerie
Stubborn and strong, and jolly as a pie. Chaucer.
These heretics be so stiff and stubborn. Sir T. More.
Your stubborn usage of the pope. Shak.
Syn. — Obstinate; inflexible; obdurate; headstrong; stiff; hardy; firm; refractory; intractable; rugged; contumacious; heady. — Stubborn, Obstinate. Obstinate is used of either active or passive persistence in one's views or conduct, in spite of the wishes of others. Stubborn describes an extreme degree of passive obstinacy. — Stub″born‐ly, adv. — Stub″born‐ness, n.