Word of the Day - 10/11/25
intractable
/ɪn'træktəbəl/(adj.): not tractable; difficult to manage or mold
The intractable child refused to follow any instructions and threw a tantrum.
Word Origin
The word 'intractable' originates from Latin. It is formed from 'in-' (meaning 'not'), 'tractare' (to pull, draw, handle, or manage), and the suffix '-bilis' (meaning 'able to be'). Thus, 'intractable' literally means 'not able to be pulled, handled, or managed', referring to something that is difficult to control or deal with.
Words with similar origins include 'attract' (from Latin 'ad-' meaning 'to' + 'trahere' meaning 'to pull'), 'distract' (from Latin 'dis-' meaning 'apart' + 'trahere'), 'tractor' (from 'trahere'), 'traction' (from 'tractus', past participle of 'trahere'), and 'treat' (which comes from Old French 'traitier', also derived from Latin 'tractare').