pertinacious
Meaning: Holding firmly to an opinion or course of action despite difficulty or opposition. Implies a dogged, resolute persistence that borders on stubbornness.
Pertinacious is a rare and elevated synonym for 'persistent' or 'tenacious,' but carries a nuance of unyielding determination that the commoner words lack. It can be admiring (a pertinacious campaigner) or mildly critical (pertinacious in his refusal to compromise). The noun 'pertinacity' is equally rare. The word is found in legal writing, parliamentary debate, and literary biography.
Examples
- Her pertinacious questioning eventually forced the minister to concede the point. 她执着的追问最终迫使大臣在这一点上做出让步。Su pertinaz interrogatorio acabó por obligar al ministro a ceder en ese punto.彼女の執拗な質問は、ついに大臣にその論点を認めさせた。그녀의 집요한 질문이 결국 장관으로 하여금 그 논점을 인정하게 만들었다.
- The pertinacious investigator spent twelve years building the case before charges were finally brought. 那位执着的调查员花了十二年建立案件,直到最终提出指控。El pertinaz investigador dedicó doce años a construir el caso antes de que finalmente se presentaran cargos.その粘り強い捜査官は、正式に起訴されるまで12年をかけて事件を構築した。그 끈질긴 수사관은 정식 기소가 이루어지기까지 12년을 들여 사건을 구축했다.
- His pertinacious adherence to outdated methods frustrated younger members of the department. 他对过时方法的固执坚持让部门里的年轻成员感到沮丧。Su pertinaz adhesión a métodos anticuados frustraba a los miembros más jóvenes del departamento.時代遅れの方法への彼の頑なな固執は、部門の若い職員たちを苛立たせた。시대에 뒤떨어진 방법에 대한 그의 완강한 고수가 부서의 젊은 직원들을 좌절시켰다.
Pronunciation
Usage Guide
Context: literary, legal
Tone: neutral
Origin & History
From Latin pertinax (holding fast, persistent), from per- (very, thoroughly) + tenax (tenacious), from tenere (to hold). Entered English in the early 17th century.
Cultural Context
Era: Modern
Generation: All ages
Social background: Universal
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