(n) any of various anemic conditions that are not successfully treated by any means other than blood transfusions (and that are not associated with another primary disease), Syn. refractory anaemia
(adj) stubbornly resistant to authority or control, Syn. recalcitrant, refractory, Example:a fractious animal that would not submit to the harness; a refractory child
a. [ L. refractorius, fr. refringere: cf. F. refractaire. See Refract. ] 1. Obstinate in disobedience; contumacious; stubborn; unmanageable; as, a refractory child; a refractory beast. [ 1913 Webster ]
Raging appetites that are Most disobedient and refractory. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]
2. Resisting ordinary treatment; difficult of fusion, reduction, or the like; -- said especially of metals and the like, which do not readily yield to heat, or to the hammer; as, a refractory ore. [ 1913 Webster ]
3. OPottery) A piece of ware covered with a vaporable flux and placed in a kiln, to communicate a glaze to the other articles. Knight. [ 1913 Webster ]