Ob"du*rate (?), a. [L.
obduratus, p. p. of obdurare to harden; ob (see
Ob-)+ durare to harden, durus hard. See Dure.]
1. Hardened in feelings, esp. against moral or
mollifying influences; unyielding; hard-hearted; stubbornly
wicked.
The very custom of evil makes the heart
obdurate against whatsoever instructions to the
contrary.
Hooker.
Art thou obdurate, flinty, hard as steel, Nay,
more than flint, for stone at rain relenteth?
Shak.
2. Hard; harsh; rugged; rough;
intractable. "Obdurate consonants." Swift.
&fist; Sometimes accented on the second syllable, especially by
the older poets.
There is no flesh in man's obdurate
heart.
Cowper.
Syn. -- Hard; firm; unbending; inflexible; unyielding;
stubborn; obstinate; impenitent; callous; unfeeling; insensible;
unsusceptible. -- Obdurate, Callous, Hardened.
Callous denotes a deadening of the sensibilities; as. a
callous conscience. Hardened implies a general and
settled disregard for the claims of interest, duty, and sympathy; as,
hardened in vice. Obdurate implies an active resistance
of the heart and will aganst the pleadings of compassion and
humanity.
-- Ob"du*rate*ly (#), adv. --
Ob"du*rate*ness, n.
Ob"du*rate (?), v. t. To
harden. [Obs.]
