Definition of rigid

The origin of the word "rigid" can be traced back to the Latin word "rigidus," which literally means "standing upright" or "firmly erect." The Latin root "rig-" also meaning "firm" or "stiff," is used in other English words such as "rigorous" and "rigidity." In the medieval period, the word "rygide" was used in Middle English to refer to anything that was straight or upright, such as a rod or a pole. By the 16th century, the meaning of the word had expanded to describe anything that was stiff, inflexible, or unyielding, both in anatomy and inanimate objects. The prefix "re-," meaning "back" or "again," added to the word in the early 19th century formed the scientific term "reghide," which referred to stronger and more durable products made by compressing materials like rubber or wood. This term eventually evolved into "rigid." Nowadays, the term "rigid" is commonly used in diverse fields such as engineering, physics, and materials science, to describe materials, structures, or objects that are unyielding, inflexible, and maintain their shape or form under various conditions.