Recalcitrant

Definition: Having an uncooperative attitude towards authority. (Adj.)

When someone is described as recalcitrant, they have an uncooperative attitude towards authority.

Definition: A person that is uncooperative towards authority. (Noun)

When someone is labeled as a recalcitrant, they are a person that is uncooperative towards authority.

Prefix: re-, means again

Suffix: -ant, suffix for adjectives describing a quality

Root: calc- (heel), calcitrare (to kick)

Forms: Recalcitrance, recalcitrancy, recalcitration

Etymology: Comes from Late Latin recalcitrant-, recalcitrans, present participle of recalcitrare, from re + calcitrare (to kick), from calc (heel), calx (heel), akin to Greek kolon (limb), skelos (leg).

Language of Origin: Greek

Geographical Origin: It was used by the Greek as recalcitrare, which meant “to kick back”. There were stubborn mules and horses that kicked back their heels. Ancient Romans also used this word, and they were deemed stubborn and uncooperative. This word then became adopted by Late Latin writers who turned recalcitrare into an adjective, recalcitrant. They used this to describe people who were “stubborn as mules”. They could have used this in shows and plays and that is where it could have spread.

Older Forms: Recalcitrare

Rather than staying for the conference, the prime minister left Scotland last week just two days after it began. Downing Street said he moved up his return visit by a few days and was lobbying recalcitrant leaders, including Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia, by phone.

Landler, Mark. “Boris Johnson Handles Scandal Amid Climate Conference.” The New York Times, 10 Nov. 2021, www.nytimes.com/2021/11/10/world/europe/boris-johnson-climate-scandal.html.

Trump called the recalcitrants "RINOs" — Republicans in name only — after last week's House vote, saying they should be "ashamed of themselves" for supporting "Democrat longevity." And one of his chief allies is calling for vengeance.

Allen, Jonathan. “Voting with Biden Leads to Calls for Punishment from House GOP.” NBC News, 10 Nov. 2021, www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/vote-against-trump-face-punishment-house-gop-n1283597.

Voting rights, social spending, workers’ rights, climate — the entire Biden agenda would sweep through Congress in a matter of months. Eliminating the filibuster and satisfying the demands of recalcitrant Democratic senators such as Joe Manchin III (W.Va.) would be nothing to worry about.

Waldman, Paul. “A Question for Depressed Democrats: What Did You Expect?” Washington Post, 8 Nov. 2021, www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2021/11/08/memo-depressed-democrats.