renitent

adjective

re·​ni·​tent ˈre-nə-tənt 

ri-ˈnī-tᵊnt

1

: resisting physical pressure

2

: resisting constraint or compulsion : recalcitrant

Word History

Etymology

French or Latin; French rénitent, from Latin renitent-, renitens, present participle of reniti to resist, from re- + niti to strive — more at nisus

First Known Use

1604, in the meaning defined at sense 2