frigid
FRIJ-id
/ˈfrɪdʒɪd/
Very cold in temperature; lacking warmth or feeling.
Implies a cold so intense it is uncomfortable or even dangerous.
The story behind the word. From the Latin 'frigidus,' meaning cold. It’s the same root that gave us 'fridge.' It describes a cold so intense it feels stiff or frozen.
Word relationships
- freezing: Freezing is a common term; frigid is more formal and often implies a more intense, biting cold.
- glacial: Glacial implies something as cold as ice or moving very slowly like a glacier.
- torrid: Extremely hot and dry.
- balmy: Pleasantly warm.
Commonly confused with
- cold: Cold is general; frigid is extreme and often hostile.
Word family
- frigidity (noun): The state of being frigid.
- frigidly (adverb): In a frigid manner.
Collocations
- frigid temperatures
- frigid waters
- frigid climate
Example sentences
- "The frigid waters of the Arctic are no place for the unprepared, as hypothermia can set in within minutes." Describing the Arctic environment.
- "The frigid air bit at their faces, turning their breath into clouds of white mist." A literary description of winter.
Memory hook
Frigid is like a Fridge. Frigid = Frozen and Rigid.
When not to use
Do not use for a refreshing cool breeze; it's for biting, extreme cold.
Fun facts
- The 'Frigid Zone' refers to the regions around the North and South Poles.
- In psychology, 'frigid' was historically used to describe emotional coldness, though this usage is now dated.
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