diehard
diehard Lexical Profile
diehard Game Scores & Validity
• adjective
Strongly or fanatically determined, devoted, or opposed to change; Stubbornly adhering to a cause, belief, or loyalty.
"Even after a decade of losing seasons, the team's diehard fans still packed the stadium every weekend."
• noun
A person who strongly opposes change or who continues to support an idea, cause, or group even when the situation is hopeless or unpopular.
"Only a few party diehards refused to accept the modern reforms proposed by the new leadership."
Word Origin & Etymology
Coined in the early 18th century from the verbal phrase "die hard," originally referring to condemned prisoners who struggled longest when being hanged. It later became the nickname of the British 57th Regiment of Foot after their commander urged them to "die hard" at the Battle of Albuera in 1811.