pertinacious (2009-08-22)

Part of Speech: adjective

Pronunciation: [pʉrt′'n ā′s̸həs]

Definition: (1) Holding firmly to some purpose, belief, or action, often stubbornly or obstinately. (2) Hard to get rid of; unyielding; persistent.

Usage: "... highly developed mental products, then the casual explanation is that the older the archaic qualities are, the more conservative and pertinacious is their behavior." - Jung

Suggested Usage: She would offer them to people with her politely pertinacious manner and upper-middle-class accent and invariably had good sales.

Etymology: From Latin pertinax (gen. pertinacis), firm from per-, intens. + tenax, holding fast from tenere, to hold: see thin.