stiffness

Reading level: hard

Estimated CEFR level: C2 — Proficiency

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. noun the physical property of being inflexible and hard to bend
  2. noun the property of moving with pain or difficulty
  3. noun firm resoluteness in purpose or opinion or action

Etymology

From Middle English stiffenes, styffenesse, styfnesse; equivalent to stiff + -ness. Perhaps merging with Middle English stithnesse, stithnysse, from Old English stīþness (“stiffness”).

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