Elasticity

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ɪ.læsˈtɪs.ɪ.ti/

Definitions

1. The property of a material or object to return to its original shape after being stretched, compressed, or deformed
2. The capacity of a substance to regain its initial form following distortion caused by stretching, compressing, or bending processes
3. The ability of a material to rebound to its former shape after experiencing stress through tension, compression, or deformation

Etymology: Elasticity is a formal coinage built from "elastic" plus the suffix "-ity", and the story behind it runs through Greek, Latin and French before reaching English. The Greek root is "elastos", a comparative-type form meaning "driven" or "propelled", which gave Greek writers "elaunein", to drive or push. The adjective "elastic" was formed in New Latin, as a scientific term, and then borrowed into French as "élastique" before passing into English. The suffix does the rest of the work. The Latin "-itas" (which produced Old French "-ite" and Middle English "-ite") attaches a state or quality to an adjective, so "elastic" becomes the quality of being elastic. English later settled on the form "-ity", which is how the noun reached its modern spelling.

Synonyms: flexibility, resilience, stretchiness, adaptability, pliability

Antonyms: rigidity, inflexibility, stiffness, hardness, immobility