recalcitrante

Recalcitrante is an adjective used in Spanish and Portuguese to describe a person or thing that resists authority, guidance, or change; it conveys stubborn, obstinate, or refractory behavior. The term can apply to attitudes, policies, or objects that are difficult to modify or control. In scientific and technical contexts, recalcitrante may describe elements that are resistant to standard methods or interventions.

Etymology and form: The word derives from Latin recalcitrans, the present participle of recalcitrāre, meaning to kick back or resist. In both Iberian languages, recalcitrante functions as an adjective and normally agrees in number: singular recalcitrante, plural recalcitrantes, with no gender-specific form change for masculine or feminine.

Usage: In everyday language, examples include a stubborn employee described as recalcitrante or a recalcitrante attitude toward new policies. In Portuguese, one might say “um aluno recalcitrante” or “uma postura recalcitrante” to denote persistent resistance to rules or reforms.

Scientific usage: In biology and related fields, recalcitrante is used to characterize organisms, seeds, or specimens that resist conventional storage, handling, or control methods. For instance, recalcitrant seeds are those that do not tolerate drying or freezing well and thus require specialized storage conditions, contrasting with orthodox seeds that are suited to standard long-term storage.

See also: obstinacy, teimosia, resistência. The English cognate is recalcitrant.