different between indomitable vs sturdy

English

Etymology

From Late Latin indomitabilis, from in- (“not”) + domitare, frequentative of dom?re (“to tame”).

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /?n?d?m?t?bl?/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /?n?d?m?t?bl?/

Adjective

indomitable (comparative more indomitable, superlative most indomitable)

1. Incapable of being subdued, overcome, or vanquished.
   • 1902, A. E. W. Mason, The Four Feathers, ch. 1:

     Personal courage and an indomitable self-confidence were the chief, indeed the only, qualities which sprang to light in General Feversham.

   • 1910, William Henry Hudson, A Shepherd's Life, ch. 7:

     But he was a youth of indomitable spirit, strong and agile as a wild cat.

   • 2007, Richard Corliss, "When Betty Got Frank," Time, 31 March:

     Nobody came on to the movie camera—wrapped it in a bear hug and wrestled it to submission—like Betty Hutton. They called this 40s singer-actress "the Blitzkrieg blond" . . . . [S]he was indomitable, unstoppable.

Synonyms

• See Thesaurus:indomitable

Related terms

Translations

English

Etymology

From Middle English sturdy, stourdy, stordy (“bold, valiant, strong, stern, fierce, rebellious”) (perhaps influenced by Middle English sture, stoure, stor (“strong, robust, harsh, stern, violent, fierce, sturdy”); see English stour), from Old French estourdi (“dazed”), form of estourdir, originally “to daze, to make tipsy (almost drunk)” (Modern French étourdir (“to daze, to make tipsy”)), from Vulgar Latin *exturdire. Latin etymology is unclear – presumably it is ex- + turdus (“thrush (bird)”), but how this should mean “daze” is unclear. A speculative theory is that thrushes eat leftover winery grapes and thus became drunk, but this meets with objections.

Disease in cows and sheep is by extension of sense of “daze”, while sense of “strongly built” is of late 14th century, and relationship to earlier sense is less clear, perhaps from sense of a firm strike (causing a daze) or a strong, violent person.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /?st??di/
• (US) IPA^(key): /?st?rdi/
• Rhymes: -??(r)di

Adjective

sturdy (comparative sturdier, superlative sturdiest)

1. Of firm build; stiff; stout; strong.
   • 1657, Henry Wotton, Characters of some Kings of England

     He was not of any delicate contexture; his limbs rather sturdy then dainty.

2. Solid in structure or person.

3. (obsolete) Foolishly obstinate or resolute; stubborn.

   • This must be done, and I would fain see / Mortal so sturdy as to gainsay.

   • October 28, 1705, Francis Atterbury, a sermon

     A sturdy, hardened sinner shall advance to the utmost pitch of impiety with less reluctance than he took the first steps.

4. Resolute, in a good sense; or firm, unyielding quality.

Synonyms

• hardy

Translations

Noun

sturdy (uncountable)

1. A disease in sheep and cattle, caused by a tapeworm and marked by great nervousness or by dullness and stupor.

Synonyms

• gid

Derived terms

• sturdied

Translations

References

• sturdy in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.