renitent

[ ri-nahyt-nt, ren-i-tuhnt ]

adjective

1. resisting pressure; resistant.
2. persistently opposing; recalcitrant.

renitent

/ ˈrɛnɪtənt; rɪˈnaɪtənt /

adjective

1. reluctant; recalcitrant
2. not flexible

Derived Forms

• reˈnitence, noun

Other Words From

• re·niten·cy re·nitence noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of renitent¹

1695–1705; < Latin renītent- (stem of renītēns ), present participle of renītī to resist, equivalent to re- re- + nīt ( ī ) to strive, make an effort + -ent- -ent

Word History and Origins

Origin of renitent¹

C18: from Latin renītī to strive afresh, from re- + nītī to endeavour

Example Sentences

Sister Ailan considered Taisin’s flushed face, her renitent posture.

From Literature

Some of them conceive of the breach of law as taking place without the employment of force; these teachings may be characterized as renitent.

From Project Gutenberg

Renitent are the teachings of Tucker and Tolstoi: Tucker conceiving the breach of law chiefly as a refusal to pay taxes and rent and an infringement of the banking monopoly, Tolstoi especially as a refusal to do military, police, or jury service, and also to pay taxes.

From Project Gutenberg

Then the shaver left the nose, for, as a tuft of hair in a hollow spot under the cheek-bone was renitent to the steel blade, he poked his thumb in his customer's mouth, swelled out the sunken spot and cleaned it beautifully.

From Project Gutenberg

Adj. counteracting &c. v.; antagonistic, conflicting, retroactive, renitent, reactionary; contrary &c.

From Project Gutenberg