headstrongadj.

a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus De Proprietatibus Rerum (BL Add. 27944) (1975) I. vi. xvi. 313 An yuel seruaunt is froward and heedstrong [L. cervicosus], and telliþ more of himself þan of his lord.

1529 T. More Dyaloge Dyuers Maters i. xxii. f. xxix/2 Theye take the brydell in the teeth and renne forthe lyke a hed stronge horse, that all the worlde cannot pluk theym bakke.

1590 R. Greene Neuer too Late i. 18 To hale a headstrong Girle from loue, is to tie the Furies againe in fetters.

1607 G. Chapman Bussy D'Ambois iii. 40 I thinke thee then a man, That dares as much as a wilde horse or Tyger; As headstrong and as bloodie.

1696 R. Bentley Of Revel. & Messias 33 They were too stiff-necked and headstrong.

1720 J. Gay Trivia ii, in Poems I. 178 The headstrong coursers tore the silver reins.

1767 J. Beekman Let. 16 Feb. in Beekman Mercantile Papers (1956) II. 968 He will not sign the Instrument. As we find him very head Strong therefore you must desire Mr. Yates to write to him.

1856 R. W. Emerson Eng. Traits viii. 140 They are testy and headstrong through an excess of will and bias.

1895 Munsey's Mag. Sept. 643/1 The firm stand he took against boyish absolutism at first startled and then fascinated the head-strong prince.

1924 ‘J. Sutherland’ Circle of Stars xxvi. 273 Far more dangerous to a silly, headstrong child than the jazz-mad boys she chose as habitual companions.

1961 20th Cent. Mar. 311 A headstrong and muddled woman..who combined convent education, la dolce vita and gambling.

2005 R. Fowler Fowler (2006) vi. 136 I've always been a bit headstrong and impulsive. If I think something, then I'll say it.

1571 J. Bridges Serm. Paules Crosse 5 Rashe youthe..being caried awaie in the headstronge wilfull delight of present pleasures.

1586 T. Bowes tr. P. de la Primaudaye French Acad. I. To Rdr. sig. Av^v That none through any head-strong conceit should be wedded to priuate opinions.

a1602 W. Perkins Godlie & Learned Expos. Epist. Iude (1606) xi. 95/1 We are giuen to vnderstand that the affection of couetousnes is a most violent headstrong affection.

1676 M. Hale Contempl. Moral & Divine i. 317 Commonly our own choice is headstrong and foolish.

1704 M. Henry Communicant's Compan. iv. 79 Do I find my Corrupt Appetites and Passions more manageable? Or, are they still as violent and headstrong as ever?

1796 H. Hunter tr. J.-H. B. de Saint-Pierre Stud. Nature (1799) II. 25 Dangerous and headstrong passions.

a1812 J. S. Buckminster Serm. (1814) xvi. 266 Who ever thinks of checking a rising thought, or reining in a headstrong fancy?

1871 R. Ellis tr. Catullus Poems xv. 14 Should..humour headstrong Drive thee wilfully..to such profaning.

1911 I. M. Pagan From Pioneer to Poet i. i. 17 The headstrong tendency to carry an enterprise through in wholly adverse circumstances or at an unsuitable time is naturally responsible for frequent disappointment.

1994 J. Berger Young Scientists ix. 153 Sometimes, his enthusiasms and headstrong will collide with his mother's headstrong will.

2004 Times Lit. Suppl. 18 June 7/1 It was Galileo's tactless, headstrong and ungrateful behaviour which earned him gagging and house arrest.

1598 F. Meres Palladis Tamia f. 197 They that rashly and headstrongly enterprise any matter, doe freese in the pursuite to their hurt and danger.

1844 G. P. R. James Arabella Stuart xxxiii. 311 If you are so headstrongly inclined..write out the letter, and I will carry it to the King myself.

1994 Jrnl. Southern Afr. Stud. 20 189 The Sophiatowners..demand, headstrongly, to be ‘blamed on history’.