intractable
EnglishEdit
EtymologyEdit
AdjectiveEdit
intractable (comparative more intractable, superlative most intractable)
- Not tractable; not able to be managed, controlled, governed or directed.
- 1972, Edsger W. Dijkstra, The Humble Programmer (EWD340):
- And I cannot but expect that this will repeatedly lead to the discovery that an initially intractable problem can be factored after all.
- (mathematics) (of a mathematical problem) Not able to be solved.
- (of a problem) Difficult to deal with, solve, or manage.
- (of a person) Stubborn; obstinate.
- (medicine) Difficult to treat (of a medical condition).
Derived termsEdit
TranslationsEdit
not tractable
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mathematics: not able to be solved
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of a problem: difficult to deal with, solve, or manage
stubborn
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medicine: difficult to treat
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ReferencesEdit
- intractable in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911.
- intractable in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.