Fix

Part of speech: verb, noun

Pronunciation: /ˈfɪks/

Definitions

1. to repair something that is broken or not working correctly, or to attach something firmly in place
2. To restore something damaged or malfunctioning to a good condition ; to attach or hold something tightly in position ; a challenging or problematic circumstance that is hard to resolve
3. To correct or make operational something that is broken ; to secure or anchor an object firmly so it does not move ; a troublesome state or dilemma requiring a solution

Etymology: The verb "fix" carries a surprising double life. Its ancestor is Latin "figere," meaning to drive in, stick or fasten, and its past participle "fixus" meant immovable or fastened in place. That participle passed through Old French, where a verb "fixer" developed, and English borrowed it in the Middle English period as "fixen," meaning to fasten something firmly. So the original sense was physical: nailing or pinning something down so it could not move. The modern "repair" sense grew from that idea of making something stable again. To fix a broken object is to fasten it back into working order, and English speakers stretched the word in many directions from there, to fix a meal, fix a date, or fix a race. The same Latin root sits behind "fixed," "fixture," and "affix," which all keep the notion of fastening in place. Note that "fix" is closely related to "dig," as both trace back to an ancient Indo-European root meaning to jab or stick something into the ground.

Synonyms: repair, mend, correct, resolve, restore

Antonyms: break, damage, ruin, destroy, disrupt