Hard to control or deal with; stubbornly resistant to treatment or solution. Describes problems, diseases, or people that are difficult to manage.
From Latin 'intractabilis,' from 'in-' (not) + 'tractabilis' (manageable), from 'tractare' (to handle, drag). The root 'tract' means to pull or drag, as in 'tractor.' Something intractable cannot be 'pulled' into line or controlled.
Think 'in-TRACTABLE'—it cannot be 'tracked' or controlled, like a wild animal that won't follow the path! The 'tract' root relates to pulling or dragging (like a tractor), so intractable things resist being pulled in any direction you want.
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