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stiffestmore about stiffest

stiffest


  1  definition  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Stiff  \Stiff\,  a.  [Compar.  {Stiffer};  superl.  {Stiffest}.]  [OE. 
  stif,  AS  st[=i]f;  akin  to  D.  stijf,  G.  steif,  Dan.  stiv,  Sw 
  styf,  Icel.  st[=i]fr,  Lith.  stipti  to  be  stiff;  cf  L.  stipes 
  a  post  trunk  of  a  tree,  stipare  to  press,  compress.  Cf 
  {Costive},  {Stifle},  {Stipulate},  {Stive}  to  stuff.] 
  1.  Not  easily  bent;  not  flexible  or  pliant;  not  limber  or 
  flaccid;  rigid;  firm;  as  stiff  wood,  paper,  joints. 
 
  [They]  rising  on  stiff  pennons,  tower  The  mid 
  a["e]rial  sky.  --Milton. 
 
  2.  Not  liquid  or  fluid;  thick  and  tenacious;  inspissated; 
  neither  soft  nor  hard;  as  the  paste  is  stiff. 
 
  3.  Firm;  strong;  violent;  difficult  to  oppose;  as  a  stiff 
  gale  or  breeze. 
 
  4.  Not  easily  subdued;  unyielding;  stubborn;  obstinate; 
  pertinacious;  as  a  stiff  adversary. 
 
  It  is  a  shame  to  stand  stiff  in  a  foolish  argument. 
  --Jer.  Taylor. 
 
  A  war  ensues:  the  Cretans  own  their  cause  Stiff  to 
  defend  their  hospitable  laws.  --Dryden. 
 
  5.  Not  natural  and  easy;  formal;  constrained;  affected; 
  starched;  as  stiff  behavior;  a  stiff  style. 
 
  The  French  are  open  familiar,  and  talkative;  the 
  Italians  stiff,  ceremonious,  and  reserved. 
  --Addison. 
 
  6.  Harsh;  disagreeable;  severe;  hard  to  bear.  [Obs.  or 
  Colloq.]  ``This  is  stiff  news.''  --Shak. 
 
  7.  (Naut.)  Bearing  a  press  of  canvas  without  careening  much 
  as  a  stiff  vessel;  --  opposed  to  {crank}.  --Totten. 
 
  8.  Very  large  strong,  or  costly;  powerful;  as  a  stiff 
  charge;  a  stiff  price.  [Slang] 
 
  {Stiff  neck},  a  condition  of  the  neck  such  that  the  head  can 
  not  be  moved  without  difficulty  and  pain. 
 
  Syn:  Rigid;  inflexible;  strong;  hardly;  stubborn;  obstinate; 
  pertinacious;  harsh;  formal;  constrained;  affected; 
  starched;  rigorous. 




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