a. (Stress variable.) Also wrongheaded. [f. WRONG a.: cf. prec.]
1. Having a perverse judgment or intellect; persistent or obstinate in erroneous opinion; perversely or obstinately wrong.
In frequent use from c. 1750.
1732. Berkeley, Alciphr., VI. § 26. The pious fraud of some wrong-headed Christian.
1751. Smollett, Per. Pic., xxi. The characters of these wrong-headed enthusiasts.
1809. Malkin, Gil Blas, VI. i. ¶ 5. The most wrong-headed retail dealer in the town.
1848. Thackeray, Van. Fair, xx. There’s no reason she should die or live miserably because you are wrong-headed.
1883. Daily Tel., 10 Nov., 5/1. The most holy and sacred beliefs suffered wreck on account of the furious zeal of wrong-headed bigots.
2. Marked or characterized by perversity of judgment.
1735. Berkeley, Querist, § 436. So long as we entertain a wrongheaded distrust of England.
1753. Miss Collier, Art Torment., I. iv. The wrong-headed anger of her master.
1809. W. Irving, Knickerb., IV. i. (1861), 116. Carts that went before the horses; weather-cocks that turned against the wind; and other wrong-headed contrivances.
1838. Dickens, O. Twist, xviii. Wrong-headed and treacherous behaviour.
1912. Times, 19 Oct., 5/3. Had her Southern Slav policy been less persistently wrong-headed.
Hence Wrong-headedly adv.
1737. Hervey’s Mem. (1848), II. 398. [He] insisted, very wrongheadedly, that he would have his directions in writing.
a. 1776. Johnson, in Boswell, Life (1904), I. 30. [The headmaster] was very severe, and wrongheadedly severe.
1866. Athenæum, 30 March, 427/3. The man … would act very wrongheadedly.
1906. Daily Chron., 23 Aug., 3/1. This was to make, wrongheadedly, a toil of pleasure.
