The very custom of evil makes the heart obdurate
against whatsoever instructions to the contrary.
--Hooker.
Art thou obdurate, flinty, hard as steel, Nay, more
than flint, for stone at rain relenteth? --Shak.
2. Hard; harsh; rugged; rough; intractable. ``Obdurate
consonants.'' --Swift.
Note: Sometimes accented on the second syllable, especially
by the older poets.
There is no flesh in man's obdurate heart.
--Cowper.
Syn: Hard; firm; unbending; inflexible; unyielding; stubborn;
obstinate; impenitent; callous; unfeeling; insensible;
unsusceptible.
Usage: {Obdurate}, {Callous}, {Hardened}. Callous denotes a
deadening of the sensibilities; as. a callous
conscience. Hardened implies a general and settled
disregard for the claims of interest, duty, and
sympathy; as, hardened in vice. Obdurate implies an
active resistance of the heart and will aganst the
pleadings of compassion and humanity. --
{Ob"du*rate*ly}, adv. -- {Ob"du*rate*ness}, n.