refractory
/ɹɪˈfɹæk.təɹ.i/
Word Rarity
Rare
Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.88 in modern English
18
Scrabble Score
10
Letters
4
Syllables
8
Unique Chars
Meaning
adj
Resistant to treatment; not responding adequately to therapy.
adj
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.
Example Sentences
- "[…] in most instances attempts to coerce the refractory and disobedient have been the signals of bloody wars, […]"
- "Mr. Weller knocked at the door, and after a pretty long interval—occupied by the party without, in whistling a tune, and by the party within, in persuading a refractory flat candle to allow itself to be lighted […]"
- "For five minutes Pollyanna worked swiftly, deftly, combing a refractory curl into fluffiness, perking up a drooping ruffle at the neck, or shaking a pillow into plumpness so that the head might have a better pose. Meanwhile the sick woman, frowning prodigiously, and openly scoffing at the whole procedure, was, in spite of herself, beginning to tingle with a feeling perilously near to excitement."
- "And the camels galled, sore-footed, refractory, Lying down in the melting snow."
- "Pure lime is extremely refractory, but readily fusible if any silex is brought in contact with it; […]"
- "There are also over 1,200 pallet brick wagons used for the conveyance of refractory bricks."
Etymology
From Latin refractārius (“obstinate”), from refrāctus, past participle of refringere (“to break up”). Originally refractary, refractarie, but reanalysed after other adjectives in -ory.
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /ɹɪˈfɹæk.təɹ.i/
- British English: /ɹɪˈfɹæk.tə.ɹi/