Ob- (?). [L. ob, prep. Cf. Epi-.] A prefix signifying to, toward,
before, against, reversely, etc.; also, as a simple intensive; as in
oblige, to bind to; obstacle, something standing before; object, lit.,
to throw against; obovate, reversely, ovate. Ob- is commonly
assimilated before c, f, g, and p, to oc-, of-, og-, and op- .
Ob"com*pressed" (?). a. [Pref. ob- + compressed.] Compressed or
flattened antero- posteriorly, or in a way opposite to the usual one.
{ Ob*con"ic (?), Ob*con"ic*al (?), } a. [Pref. ob- + conic, conical.]
Conical, but having the apex downward; inversely conical.
Ob*cor"date (?), a. [Pref. ob- + cordate.] Heart-shaped, with the
attachment at the pointed end; inversely cordate: as, an obcordate
petal or leaf.
Ob*dip`lo*stem"o*nous (?), a. [Pref. ob- + diplostemonous.] (Bot.)
Having twice as many stamens as petals, those of the outer set being
opposite the petals; -- said of flowers. Gray.
Ob*dip"lo*stem"o*ny (?), n. (Bot.) The condition of being
obdiplostemonous.
Ob"dor*mi"tion (?), n. [L. obdormire to fall asleep.] Sleep. [Obs.] Bp.
Hall.
Ob*duce" (?), v. t. [L. obducere, obductum; ob (see Ob-) + ducere to
lead.] To draw over, as a covering. [Obs.] Sir M. Hale.
Ob*duct" (&?;), v. t. [See Obduce.] To draw over; to cover. [Obs.] Sir
T. Browne.
Ob*duc"tion (?), n. [L. obductio.] The act of drawing or laying over,
as a covering. [Obs.]
Ob"du*ra*cy (?), n. The duality or state of being obdurate; invincible
hardness of heart; obstinacy. "Obduracy and persistency." Shak.
The absolute completion of sin in final obduracy.
South.
Ob"du*rate (?), 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.
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.
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.
-- 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.