untractableadj.
Now rare.
1. = intractable adj. 1. (Common c1550–1800.)
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > lack of subjection > [adjective] > intractable or recalcitrant
unbuxoma1250
unbowsomec1290
sturdy13..
wildc1350
stubbornc1386
unbaina1400
stoutc1410
kimeta1450
staffish?a1513
untractable1538
intractable1545
sullen1577
restiff1578
indocile1603
resty1603
hot-mouthed1609
immorigerous1623
intractive1623
uncompliable1626
restivea1628
non-complying1649
uncompliant1659
incompliant1706
unobliging1707
recalcitrant1797
unbiddable1825
stocky1836
recalcitrary1861
calcitrant1866
non-cooperative1867
recalcitrating1870
ropeable1870
non-cooperating1895
bolshie1918
the mind > will > decision > obstinacy or stubbornness > [adjective] > disobediently stubborn
incorrigiblea1340
unchastisable1382
contumaxc1386
stubbornc1386
stoutc1410
contumacec1425
staffish?a1513
unwieldy1513
untractable1538
intractable1545
prefract?1549
incounselable1554
indocible1555
uncorrectable1562
refractorious1563
haggard1566
neck-stiff1570
uncounsellablea1578
refractary1583
contumacious1603
refractarious1609
refractory1615
unmanageable1616
immorigerous1623
refractive1623
pervicacious1633
unrectifiable1645
undocible1653
undocile1656
untractible1670
unadvisable1672
recalcitrant1797
unguidable1822
recalcitrary1861
1538 T. Elyot Dict. Insanus, madde, peuyshe,..vntractable.
1548 N. Udall et al. tr. Erasmus Paraphr. Newe Test. I. Matt. xviii. 75 Yf he be so vntractable that he wyll not be moued neyther wyth shame, nor wyth feare of iudgemente.
1586 T. Bowes tr. P. de la Primaudaye French Acad. I. 339 His horses..are become restie, furious, and vntractable.
a1620 M. Fotherby Atheomastix (1622) i. xii. §4. 130 Pharaoh..was as stiffe, and as vntractable, as a rocke.
1670 C. Cotton tr. G. Girard Hist. Life Duke of Espernon ii. viii. 409 Birds..of those kinds which with us are the most wild, and untractable.
1714 R. Fiddes Pract. Disc. (ed. 2) II. 300 Persons of a base and untractable temper.
1777 W. Robertson Hist. Amer. II. v. 78 The untractable arrogance of Narvaez.
1824 L.-M. Hawkins Annaline III. 32 His followers..[were] more furious and untractable from the dreadful excesses they had committed.
2. = intractable adj. 2.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > difficulty > types of difficulty > [adjective] > difficult or intractable (of things)
wickc1330
riotous1340
wickeda1352
untreatablec1374
frowarda1400
inobedient1495
stubborn?1518
unwieldya1538
unruly1548
wieldlessa1560
hard1560
untoward1566
tickle1570
churlish1577
unwieldsome1579
rebellious1587
disobedient1588
unframeable1593
unwilling1593
untractable1601
unmanageable1606
intractable1607
surly1609
unwedgeablea1616
dogged1627
uncontrollable1648
obdurate1651
morose1652
uncompliant1659
sullen1678
unpliant1716
ungovernable1773
sulky1867
intractile1880
unwieldly1881
bunglesome1915
1601 P. Holland tr. Pliny Hist. World II. 118 Other hearbs, hideous to the eye, and untractable in hand.
a1640 T. Risdon Chorogr. Surv. Devon (1811) (modernized text) 5 Hills are untractable to tillage.
1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost x. 476 But I Toild out my uncouth passage, forc't to ride Th' untractable Abysse. View more context for this quotation
1743 W. Emerson Doctr. Fluxions 85 If you have an untractable Fluxion that will answer to none of the Forms.
1823 W. Scott Quentin Durward III. i. 18 He..wrung bitterly the hands, which his mail-gloves rendered untractable.
1837 W. Whewell Hist. Inductive Sci. II. vii. ii. 177 There was room, among these hitherto untractable irregularities, for the additional results of the theory.
Derivatives
unˈtractableness n.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > lack of subjection > [noun] > intractability or recalcitrance
unbowsomeness1340
wincing1426
restiness?c1550
restiffness?1561
restiveness?1561
intractability1579
untractablenessa1600
indocility1648
non-compliance1648
intractableness1664
non-complying1687
uncompliableness1687
incompliance1708
non-cooperation1795
recalcitrancy1844
recalcitrance1845
uncompliability1880
bolshiness1975
the mind > will > decision > obstinacy or stubbornness > [noun] > disobedient stubbornness
contumacec1230
unbuxomnessa1300
unbuxomheada1325
contumacyc1386
sturdinessa1400
stoutnessc1400
contumacityc1420
pervicacy1537
untractablenessa1600
pervicacity1604
contumation1618
refractariness1624
refractoriness1627
incorrigiblenessa1631
indocibleness1647
immorigerousness1649
contumaciousness1654
refracture1659
intractableness1664
unmanageableness1664
refractiveness1674
untractibleness1676
pervicaciousness1692
untreatableness1693
untractability1797
recalcitrancy1844
recalcitrance1845
a1600 R. Hooker Learned Serm. Pride (1612) 14 Disobedience of children, stubbornes of servants, vntractablenesse in them, who..should..bee also subiect.
1605 E. Sandys Relation State of Relig. T 3 The vntractablenesse of Papacy to it.
1690 J. Locke Ess. Humane Understanding iv. xix. 355 In the dulness or untractableness of those Faculties, for want of use.
1752 H. Walpole Lett. (1846) II. 432 Will they ever expect a peaceable prelate, if untractableness is thus punished?
1817 J. Mill Hist. Brit. India II. iv. ii. 70 The untractableness of his own disposition.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1926; most recently modified version published online June 2020).
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adj.1538