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sposed to fight against; hostile; at war with; being at variance; contrary; inconsistent; refractory; disobedient; also, distasteful in a high degree; offensive; -- usually followed by to, rarely and less properly by with; as, all rudeness was repugnant to her nature. [His sword] repugnant to command. Shak. There is no…

Impatient under coercion, chastisement, or opposition; refractory.

; 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…

A short run by a race horse in exercise. Sweat box (Naut.), a small closet in which refractory men are confined. -- Sweat glands (Anat.), sudoriferous glands. See under Sudoriferous.

An electric glow lamp having filaments of metallic tungsten. Such lamps, owing to the refractory nature of the metal, may be maintained at a very high temperature and require an expenditure of only about 1.25 watts per candle power.

Disposed to insubordination and disorder; restless; unquiet; refractory; as, turbulent spirits. Sagacious, bold, and turbulent of wit. Dryden.

submissive to rule; disregarding restraint; disposed to violate; turbulent; ungovernable; refractory; as, an unruly boy; unruly boy; unruly conduct. But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. James iii. 8.

Not well tamed or broken; given to bad tricks; unruly; refractory; as, a vicious horse.

verned by the will without yielding to reason; obstinate; perverse; inflexible; stubborn; refractory; as, a willful man or horse. -- Will"ful*ly, adv. -- Will"ful*ness, n.