Refractory (-r), a.
Etymology: [L. refractorius, fr. refringere: cf. F. refractaire. See Refract.]
1. Obstinate in disobedience; contumacious; stubborn; unmanageable; as, a refractory child; a refractory beast. Raging appetites that are Most disobedient and refractory. Shak.
2. Resisting ordinary treatment; difficult of fusion, reduction, or the like; -- said especially of metals and the like, which do not readily yield to heat, or to the hammer; as, a refractory ore.
Syn. -- Perverse; contumacious; unruly; stubborn; obstinate; unyielding; ungovernable; unmanageable.
1 other Webster entry under this spelling
Refractory, n.
1. A refractory person. Bp. Hall.
2. Refractoriness. [Obs.] Jer. TAylor.
3. OPottery) A piece of ware covered with a vaporable flux and placed in a kiln, to communicate a glaze to the other articles. Knight.
Shades of meaning
Fernald has no entry of its own for refractory; he lists it under obstinate, rebellious, restive.
Where he writes about it:
Refractory implies more activity of resistance; the stubborn horse balks; the refractory animal plunges, rears, and kicks; metals that resist ordinary processes of reduction are termed refractory. — from obstinate