stif

stif

See also: stif-

Middle English

Alternative forms

• styf, styfe, styff, styffe, stife, stiff, stiffe, stive, styve

Etymology

From Old English stīf, from Proto-Germanic *stīfaz.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /stiːf/, /stif/

Adjective

stif (comparative stiffer, superlative stiffeste)

1. Stiff, firm, hard; difficult to move or manipulate.
2. Strong, fixed, hardy well-built; constructed as to last.
3. Having strong resolve; unyielding or strong-minded.
4. Daring, audacious, valiant, boastful.
5. Having great strength, might or ability; mightful.
6. Having great force or potence; forceful.
7. Bloody, injurious, wounding; causing injury or challenge.
8. (rare) Runny; having a high viscosity.
9. (rare) Rough; not smooth to the touch.

Derived terms

• stifly
• stiffenes

Descendants

• English: stif
• Scots: stif, stiff, steif

References

• “stif (adj.)” in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007, retrieved 2018-06-27.

Adverb

stif (inflected form stiffer, comparative stiffest)

1. Stiffly, firmly, unmoveably; in a way that is difficult to move or manipulate.
2. With strong resolve; unyieldingly or strong-mindedly.
3. Bloodily, injuriously, woundingly; in a way causing injury or challenge.
4. (rare) Daringly, bravely, forcefully, totally.

References

• “stif (adv.)” in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007, retrieved 2018-06-27.