Frigidness

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. The quality of being very cold in temperature ; the state of showing no warmth or affection in behavior or attitude
2. A condition characterized by a very low temperature ; exhibiting an absence of emotional warmth or friendliness
3. An extreme degree of chilliness or frostiness ; a lack of emotional expressiveness or caring in manner

Etymology: "Frigidness" is a plain English formation: the adjective "frigid" with the suffix "-ness", which turns an adjective into a noun for the state or quality it describes. The base word came into English from Latin "frigidus", meaning cold, itself built on "frigus", cold, which descends from an ancient root for cold that also gave Latin "frīgeō", to be cold. The suffix has a long pedigree of its own. The ending "-ness" comes from Old English "-nes", which was attached to adjectives to form nouns of quality, and it has been productive ever since, so English speakers can apply it to almost any adjective without needing a special dictionary entry. Its Middle English form was "-nesse", and the modern spelling settled in as the language standardised. Because "frigid" was borrowed with its Latin sense intact, the word "frigidness" literally names the condition of being frigid. The adjective later took on a figurative meaning, describing emotional or social coldness, and the noun has been used in both senses, though its core meaning remains physical cold.

Synonyms: coldness, chilliness, coolness, frostiness, iciness

Antonyms: warmth, heat, hotness, fervor, ardor