rigid English · revision 39841

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=?a1425, translation of Guy de Chauliac|origins=la rigeō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /ˈɹɪd͡ʒ.ɪd/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|la|rigidus|t=stiff, unbending, frozen, stern]],^(OED 2026)^(Barnhart 1988)^(AHD 2024)^(Etymonline)^(Klein 1966) formed on [[m|la|rigeō|t=to be stiff]] with the adjective suffix that became [[-id]].^(OED 2026)^(SOED 2002)^(Dictionary.com 2016) Merriam-Webster and the Shorter Oxford allow a borrowing through [[m|frm|rigide]].^(MWU 2024)^(SOED 2002) The Latin verb comes from the Indo-European root [[ine-pro|*reig-|t=to stretch, be stiff]], according to Etymonline and Watkins;^(Etymonline)^(AHD 2024) Barnhart thinks it was altered from an earlier [[m|la|*regeō]] under the influence of [[m|la|ērigō|t=to raise up]], the source of [[erect]],^(Barnhart 1988) and Merriam-Webster connects it with [[m|la|regō|t=to lead straight, rule]].^(MWU 2024) Klein compares [[grc|ῥῖγος|tr=rhîgos|t=frost, cold]].^(Klein 1966) [[rigour|alt=Rigour]] comes from the same verb.^(Hoad 1986)^(Klein 1966)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Stiff, unbending, of the body: probably before 1425, in a translation of Guy de Chauliac's ''Grande Chirurgie'';^(OED 2026)^(Barnhart 1988) Etymonline dates it to the early 15th century and Merriam-Webster to the 15th century.^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) Dictionary.com, Collins and Hoad date it only to the 16th century.^(Dictionary.com 2016)^(Collins 2023)^(Hoad 1986)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ From physical stiffness the word passed to things that do not change: "fixed, set, inflexible" is recorded from 1610,^(OED 2026) "strict, exacting", of a person keeping to a rule, from 1602,^(OED 2026)^(Hoad 1986) and stiffness of an object or material from 1618.^(OED 2026) Johnson (1755) gave the senses "stiff, not to be bent" and "severe, inflexible".^(Johnson 1755) Later technical uses include a vehicle in one section, as opposed to an articulated one (1852), an airship with an internal framework (1901), a personality unable to adapt, in psychology (1919), and Kripke's ''rigid designator'' in philosophy (1971).^(OED 2026) The colloquial ''bore someone rigid'', to bore to an intolerable degree, dates from 1900.^(OED 2026)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * ?a1425 – stiff, of the body.^(OED 2026)^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1602 – strict, keeping to a rule.^(OED 2026)

+ * 1610 – fixed, not admitting change.^(OED 2026)

+ * 1618 – of an object, not flexible.^(OED 2026)

+ * 1852 – of a vehicle, in one section.^(OED 2026)

+ * 1900 – ''bore someone rigid''.^(OED 2026)

+ * 1901 – of an airship, with a stiff frame.^(OED 2026)

+ * 1971 – ''rigid designator'', in philosophy.^(OED 2026)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Not [[bend|alt=bending]] or able to be bent; [[stiff]]: ''a rigid plastic case''.^(Collins 2023)^(MWU 2024)

+ # Not able to be changed or adapted; [[strict]] or [[inflexible]]: ''The club keeps to a rigid timetable.''^(Collins 2023)^(OED 2026)

+ # Stiff and motionless, especially from fear, pain or another strong feeling.^(MWU 2024)^(OED 2026)

+ # Of an [[airship]], having a framework that keeps its shape.^(OED 2026)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ===Adverb===

+ # ''(informal)'' Completely or excessively: ''The speech bored the audience rigid.''^(Collins 2023)^(OED 2026)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[rigidly]]

+ * [[rigidness]]

+ * [[rigidity]]

+ * [[overrigid]]

+ * [[rigidify]]

+ * [[rigidize]]

+ * [[semirigid]]

+ * [[subrigid]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[rigor]]

+ * [[rigorous]]

+ * [[rigour]]

+ * [[frigid]]

+ * [[stiff]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}