stodgy English · revision 1254

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈstɒ.d͡ʒi/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It was formed from ''stodge''^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(RHWU) and the suffix [[-y]].^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(RHWU) ''Stodge'' “to stuff, cram” (1674) is of unknown origin,^(Etymonline) perhaps imitative.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Of a thick, semi-solid consistency (1823).^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The noun ''stodge'' came to mean heavy, filling food (1825–1841),^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) and ''stodgy'' was applied to such food from 1858.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995) The figurative sense “dull, heavy” developed by 1874,^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) first of writing and conversation^(OED 1989) and from 1895 of people and their lives.^(OED 1989) The sense of being bulky in figure dates from 1854,^(OED 1989)^(MW Collegiate) and that of being stuffy and old-fashioned is now common.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1674 – ''stodge'', to stuff.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1823 – thick, semi-solid.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1854 – bulky in figure.^(OED 1989)^(MW Collegiate)

+ * 1858 – of food, heavy.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * 1874 – dull, heavy, of writing.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1895 – of persons, dull.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Dull, unimaginative and commonplace.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Old-fashioned, prim or pompous; [[stuffy]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Of food, heavy and starchy.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Solidly built; [[stocky]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[stodgily]]

+ * [[stodginess]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[stodge]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Random House gives ''tiresome'', ''stuffy'' and ''prosaic'' as synonyms, and ''lively'' and ''exciting'' as antonyms.^(RHWU)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}