obstinó

Obstinó is the third-person singular form of the Spanish verb obstinar in the preterite tense. The verb obstinar means to persist or insist in a stubborn manner, often in opposition to external pressures or contrary evidence. In everyday speech, the reflexive form obstinarse is more common for expressing persistent stubbornness, as in “se obstinó en seguir adelante.” The non-reflexive use of obstinar exists but is less frequent and tends to appear in formal or literary contexts, where a direct object can be involved (for example, obstinar una postura or obstinarse en una decisión).

Etymology and meaning. Obstinar derives from Latin obstināre, with the noun obstinación forming the related concept of obstinacy or stubbornness. The term shares connections with other Romance languages through the same Latin root, and its meanings center on firm, often inflexible persistence rather than flexibility or compromise.

Usage notes. Obstinó appears in narrative past-tense constructions to indicate that someone maintained a stance, action, or belief despite opposition or difficulties. Since the reflexive form is more natural for expressing personal persistence, obstinó is most often found in literary or formal prose where a non-reflexive nuance is desired or when the subject acts upon an external object, such as obstinar una postura.

See also. Obstinación (obstinacy), obstinarse (to obstinate oneself), obstinadamente (stubbornly), terquedad (stubbornness). The term is related to concepts of perseverance and rigidity, with connotations of stubbornness rather than flexible adaptability.