Nonstretchable

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. A substance that does not permit any deformation under tensile or compressive forces
2. An object that remains unchanged in size and shape when subjected to stress or strain
3. Not able to be lengthened or expanded by force or pressure

Etymology: "Nonstretchable" is about as transparent as English compounds get: the prefix "non-", meaning "not," attached to "stretchable," which itself comes from "stretch" plus the suffix "-able," meaning "capable of being." Put together, the word simply describes something that cannot be stretched, such as a fabric, cable, or material that keeps its length under tension. The base word "stretch" traces back to Old English "streccan," which meant to extend something or make it taut. The "-able" ending came into English through Old French from Latin "-abilis," and it has long been one of the most productive ways to turn a verb into an adjective describing capacity. "Non-" similarly comes from Latin "non," meaning "not," and English has attached it to countless adjectives, so "nonstretchable" follows an ordinary pattern rather than a special history.

Synonyms: inflexible, rigid, stiff

Antonyms: stretchable, flexible