Gelidity

/dʒəˈlɪdɪti/ noun

Definition

The quality or condition of being extremely cold; the state of being frozen, icy, or having a cold demeanor.

Etymology

From Latin geliditas, derived from gelidus (icy); the suffix -ity converts the adjective to a noun describing the abstract quality of coldness.

Kelly Says

Gelidity perfectly captures why we have so many cold-related words in English—from 'chilly' to 'frigid' to 'gelid'—because understanding different kinds of coldness was crucial to survival!

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