intractable
adjective

- very difficult or impossible to control, manage or solve

(Cambridge Dictionaries)

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Intractable is a 16th century word formed from "in" (not) and "tractable" (manageable) and stems from the Latin "intractabilis" (in = not, opposite of + tractabilis = that which may be touched, handled).

The Latin tractabilis is from tractare (to manage), a frequentative of trahere (to draw). In a terrific example of how far words can develop and branch out over a long period of time, the Latin trahere is the root of several other English words, some of which have completely unrelated definitions (who said that English always makes sense?). These include:

- tract = an area of land or water, a system of organs and tissues that together perform a specialized function (i.e. the respiratory tract), a leaflet or pamphlet containing a declaration or appeal (especially one published by a religious or political group)

-tractor = a vehicle having a powerful gasoline or diesel motor and usually large, heavily treaded rear tires, used especially for pulling farm implements or machinery (this stems from the sense of "trahere" as in to draw or pull)

- traction = the act of drawing or pulling, the pulling power of an engine, the adhesive friction of a wheel on a surface

- treat = to act or behave in a specified manner toward someone, to regard or handle in a certain way, to deal with in writing or speech, to provide with food, entertainment or gifts at one's own expense, to subject to a process or action, to give medical aid to someone

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SYNONYMS

difficult, unmanageable, hard, tough, challenging, demanding, stubborn, tricky

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SMUGGLE OWAD into today's conversation

"Many of the world's problems seem intractable."

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Thanks to Sabine for suggesting today's word!