disobedient, a. and n.
(dɪsəʊˈbiːdɪənt)
Also 5 dys-, 6 dishob-.
[a. OF. desobedient (in Godef.); cf. It. disubbidiente (Florio), Sp. desobediente; a Romanic formation, for L. inobēdient-em, f. dis- 4 + L. obēdient-em obedient.]
A. adj. Withholding obedience; refusing or failing to obey; neglectful or not observant of authoritative command; guilty of breach of prescribed duty; refractory, rebellious.
| 14.. Why I can't be a Nun 272 in E.E.P. (1862) 145 A-nother lady..That hyȝt dame dysobedyent..set nowȝt by her priores. 1535 Coverdale Ps. cv. 7 Oure fathers..were dishobedient at the see. 1549 Cheke Hurt Sedit. (1641) 15 How is the king obeyed, whose wisest be withstanded, the disobedientest obeyed. 1667 Milton P.L. vi. 687 Michael and his Powers went forth to tame These disobedient. 1819 Shelley Cenci iii. i. 316 Such was God's scourge for disobedient sons. 1828 Scott F.M. Perth xxxiv, These are not loving subjects, but disobedient rebels. |
b. transf. Unyielding, intractable, stubborn.
| 1588 J. Read Compend. Method 101 Growing nigh to the manner of a cancer, and disobedient to any medicine. a 1802 E. Darwin (Webster, 1828), Medicines..rendering peculiar parts of the system disobedient to stimuli. 1843 Carlyle Past & Pr. iii. x. (1872) 165 Disobedient Cotton fibre, which will not..consent to cover bare backs. |
† B. n. A disobedient or refractory person.
| 1548 Act. 2–3 Edw. VI, c. 23. §2 Inflicting all such Pains upon the Disobedients. a 1670 Spalding Troub. Chas. I (1829) 70 Refusers to subscribe the covenant..and other disobedients. |