obstetrics, n. tocology; midwifery.
obstinacy, n. 1. inflexibility, immovability, stiffneckedness, Inf. hard-coreness; inexorableness, implacability, intransigence, intractability, unyieldingness; unmalleability, unpersuadability, uninfluencea-bility, unswayability, unpliability.
2. stubbornness, mulishness, muleheadedness, pigheadedness, bullheadedness, bullishness, headstrongness; willfulness, contrariness, perverseness, wrongheadedness, balkiness, uncooperativeness, froward-ness, refractoriness, recalcitrance, contumacy, contumaciousness, U.S. Inf. notionateness, Inf. cussedness, Archaic, untowardness; ungovernability, unmanageability, uncontrollability, difficultness, restiveness, unruliness, waywardness, fractiousness, incorrigibleness.
3. persistence, perseverance, pertinacity, tenacity, tenaciousness, bulldog tenacity, bulldoggedness, doggedness, unrelentingness, single-mindedness, singleness of purpose; staying power, Inf. stick-to-it-iveness.
obstinate, adj. 1. inflexible, immovable, not to be moved, adamant, adamantine, stiff-necked, set, set in one's ways, Inf. hard-core, Inf. hard-shell; inexorable, implacable, intransigent, intractable, uncompromising, unbending, unwavering, unyielding; unmalleable, unpersuadable, uninfluenceable, unswayable, unpli-able; persistent, persevering, pertinacious, tenacious, dogged, bulldogged, relentless, unrelenting, singleminded.
2. stubborn, stubborn as a mule, mulish, muleheaded, pigheaded, bullheaded, bullish, headstrong; willful, self-willed, contrary, perverse, wrong-headed, cross-grained, balky, uncooperative, froward, refractory, recalcitrant, contumacious, U.S. Inf. notionate, Inf. cussed, Archaic, untoward; ungovernable, unmanageable, uncontrollable, difficult, restive, unruly, wayward, fractious, incorrigible.
obstreperous, adj. 1. restive, unruly, disorderly, out of order, out of hand, rowdy, brawly; rambunctious, rampageous, roisterous, rip-roaring, wild, tumultuous, Brit. Inf. mafficking; uncontrolled, unrestrained, ungoverned, unbridled; refractory, recalcitrant, defiant, contumacious, fractious, Inf. ornery.
2. noisy, loud, rackety; clamorous, clamant, blatant, clangorous, vociferous, boisterous, riotous, uproarious, tempestuous; deafening, ear-splitting, ear-piercing, ear-rending.
obstruct, v. 1. block, barricade, plug up, dam up, clog, oppiliate; choke off, shut off, foreclose, ban, debar; stop, prohibit, forbid, preclude, prevent; arrest, check, halt, abort, bring to a standstill.
2. hinder, hamper, impede, interfere, interrupt, intervene; frustrate, thwart, balk, deter; limit, circumscribe; suppress, inhibit, restrain, cramp, slow, retard; delay, stay, stall, suspend; curb, brake, rein, harness, bridle, control; throttle, muzzle, gag, smother; hamstring, bind, shackle, trammel, fetter, encumber, tie hand an foot.
obstruction, n. obstacle, impediment, hindrance, oppilation, Archaic, remora; barrier, stop, stopper, block, Med. obstruent, stumbling block, roadblock, barricade; curb, check, balk, catch, hitch, snag, difficulty, bottleneck; restriction, limitation, constraint; trammel, bridle; forbiddance, prohibition, interdiction, injunction, proscription, preclusion, ban, embargo, veto, taboo.
obtain, v. 1. get, acquire, procure, secure, gain, come by, SI. cop; take possession of, get one's hands on, get a hold of; capture, seize, grasp, net, bag; reap, harvest, garner, gather, glean; buy, purchase, pick up, Scot. Archaic, coff; reach, attain, achieve, win.