refractory

Meanings

Adjective

• Obstinate and unruly; strongly opposed to something.
• Not affected by great heat.
• Difficult to treat.
• Incapable of registering a reaction or stimulus.

Noun

• A material or piece of material, such as a brick, that has a very high melting point.

Origin

• From Latin refractārius, from refractus, past participle of refringere. Originally refractary, refractarie, but reanalysed after other adjectives in -ory.