Word of the Day - 07/28/26
pertinacious
/ˌpɝːtəˈneɪʃəs/(adj.): stubbornly unyielding
His pertinacious refusal to admit defeat earned him respect, even from his rivals.
Word Origin
The word 'pertinacious' originates from Latin. It comes from 'pertinax' (holding fast, stubborn, persistent), which is formed from the prefix 'per-' (through, thoroughly) and 'tenax' (holding, tenacious), derived from the verb 'tenere' (to hold). The suffix '-acious' is an adjective-forming suffix, meaning 'full of' or 'characterized by'. Thus, pertinacious literally means 'characterized by holding thoroughly'.
Many words share a similar origin through the Latin root 'tenere' (to hold) or the prefix 'per-'. Examples include 'tenacious' (from 'tenax'), 'maintain', 'contain', 'retain', 'sustain', and 'obtain' (all from 'tenere'). 'Pertinent' also shares the 'per-' prefix and relates to 'tenere' through 'pertinere' (to reach to, belong to). Other words with 'per-' include 'persistence' and 'perennial'.