'intransigent' originates from French, specifically the word 'intransigeant', formed from Latin elements 'in-' (not) and 'transigere' (to drive through, to settle).

'intransigeant' (French) was adopted into English in the mid-19th century as 'intransigent', and the adverbial form 'intransigently' developed by adding the productive English adverbial suffix '-ly'.

Initially it carried the sense of 'not willing to compromise or come to an agreement', and it has retained that core meaning into modern usage.