rigidifyv.
/rᵻˈdʒɪdᵻfʌɪ/, U.S. /rəˈdʒɪdəˌfaɪ/ 1. intransitive. To become rigid, set, or inflexible.In quot. 1847: to solidify.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > constitution of matter > hardness > types of hardness > [verb (intransitive)] > become stiff or rigid
starkOE
starken?a1513
rigidify1829
rigidize1858
1829 Morning Chron. 12 Mar. 3/2 Upon this announcement, our Orangeman's articulations rigidify.
1847 A. Tulk tr. L. Oken Elements Physiophilos. iii. 259 The water..sinks downwards and, as it were like that in stalactites, invariably rigidifies or hardens at the radical capillaries.
1879 S. Baring-Gould Germany I. 301 The muscles rigidify.
1906 Prelim. Rep. Comm. on Revenue & Taxation State of Calif. 162 The administration will weaken and the assessed valuation gradually rigidify.
1979 Nature 16 Aug. 538/3 The slightly enhanced ‘mobility’ of the substrate binding area is intriguing, in particular, if it were to be found that these segments ‘rigidify’ on substrate binding.
1999 Christian Sci. Monitor (Nexis) 28 May 15 Another argues that religious ‘ideas’ are more valuable than ‘beliefs’, since ideas can blossom and change while mere beliefs tend to rigidify and constrict.
2. transitive. To make (a material or immaterial object) rigid or inflexible; to set (something, esp. a person's disposition, traits, and mental processes); to make strict or unyielding.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > constitution of matter > hardness > types of hardness > [verb (transitive)] > make stiff or rigid
stivea1375
stiff1486
stent1488
stiffen1622
rigidify1842
stark1862
rigidize1936
the world > action or operation > behaviour > adaptability to circumstances > act in accordance with [verb (transitive)] > make rigid or inflexible
rigidify1912
1842 J. Cairns Let. in Life (1895) 137 The muscles of the mind..are rigidified by frost and unstrung by heat.
1879 S. Baring-Gould Germany I. 300 Education restrains, rigidifies the organ of voice.
1912 J. Galsworthy in Daily Mail 27 May 4/4 Which of us does not know the deflecting power of trusteeship, rigidified, as it is, by law?
1920 A. S. Eddington Space, Time & Gravitation ii. 39 If a substantial aether analogous to a material ocean exists, it must rigidify, as it were, a definite space.
1961 B. R. Wilson Sects & Society 1 The sect..seeks itself to rigidify a pattern of behaviour.
1973 P. Evans Bodyguard Man ii. 23 Rigor mortis had already begun to rigidify the cells.
2002 S. J. Gould Struct. Evolutionary Theory vii. 554 Williams himself did not abuse, rigidify, misconstrue, or unduly simplify his criteria—but his followers did.
Derivatives
riˈgidified adj.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > constitution of matter > hardness > types of hardness > [adjective] > stiff or rigid > stiffened
stiffed1565
stiffened1602
rigidified1847
rigidized1886
upstiffed1922
1847 A. Tulk tr. L. Oken Elements Physiophilos. iii. 332 The osseous or bony texture is a solid globe or rigidified vesicle.
1977 T. Berger Who is Teddy Villanova? i. 6 I am, with expanded chest and rigidified tendons, just..five feet ten.
2001 R. Shapcott Justice, Community, & Dialogue iv. 155 Those instances where the law is seen to be outdated or rigidified, for example the case of rape in marriage.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2010; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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