obturate

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Obturated p. pr. & vb. n. Obturating ] [ L. obturatus; p.p. of obturare. ] To stop or close, as an opening; specif., (Ordnance), to stop (a gun breech) so as to prevent the escape of gas in firing. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

a. [ L. obduratus, p. p. of obdurare to harden; ob (see Ob-)+ durare to harden, durus hard. See Dure. ] 1. Hardened in feelings, esp. against moral or mollifying influences; unyielding; hard-hearted; stubbornly wicked. [ 1913 Webster ]

The very custom of evil makes the heart obdurate against whatsoever instructions to the contrary. Hooker. [ 1913 Webster ]

Art thou obdurate, flinty, hard as steel,
Nay, more than flint, for stone at rain relenteth? Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Hard; harsh; rugged; rough; intractable. “Obdurate consonants.” Swift. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Sometimes accented on the second syllable, especially by the older poets. [ 1913 Webster ]

There is no flesh in man's obdurate heart. Cowper. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Hard; firm; unbending; inflexible; unyielding; stubborn; obstinate; impenitent; callous; unfeeling; insensible; unsusceptible. -- 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

-- Ob"du*rate*ly adv. -- Ob"du*rate*ness, n. [ 1913 Webster ]