pervicacious

[ pur-vi-key-shuhs ]

adjective

1. extremely willful; obstinate; stubborn.

Other Words From

• pervi·cacious·ly adverb
• pervi·cacious·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of pervicacious¹

1625–35; < Latin pervicāc-, stem of pervicāx stubborn, willful ( per- per- + vic-, variant stem of vincere to conquer ( victor ) + -āx adj. suffix denoting tendency or ability) + -ious

Example Sentences

At the other extremity of creation are men—"proud in reason, loud in speech, immortal of soul, mortal of member, in mind light and anxious, in body brute and feeble, divers in character, in error the same, in daring pervicacious, in hope, pertinacious, of vain toil, of frail fortune, severally mortal, generally continuous, mutable in the succession of offspring, time fleeting, wisdom lingering, death swift and life querulous, so they live."

From Project Gutenberg

Pervicacious, per-vi-kā′shus, adj. very obstinate.—ns.

From Project Gutenberg

Of late, I am told by shopkeepers, the tin box with the pervicacious cover is becoming popular; but I remain true to my sponge in a bottle: for, unlike the leopard, I am able to change my spots.

From Project Gutenberg

"Pervicacious" has the same meaning, for it signifies that a man "perseveres in his purpose until he is victorious: for the ancients called 'vicia' what we call victory."

From Project Gutenberg

It is a round sum indeed; I wish a three-cornered sum would have served her turn.—Why should you be so pervicacious now, Pug?

From Project Gutenberg