Rigor
Noun
Definition: The quality of being extremely thorough, accurate, or precise.
Definition: Rigidity or stiffness of a body or material.
Synonyms: Exactness, Precision, Meticulousness
Antonyms: Leniency, Laxity, Flexibility
- The scientist approached the experiment with rigor, ensuring every detail was accounted for.
- The rigor of the steel beam made it resistant to bending under pressure.
- Think of rigor as being strict and precise.
- Rigor mortis, a term used to describe the stiffening of muscles after death, can remind you of the meaning of rigor.
Etymology:
Middle English (in the sense 'stiffness, rigidity'): from Latin rigor, from rigere 'be stiff or rigid'.
Historical Usage:The word has roots in Latin and has been used in English since the 14th century, initially referring to physical stiffness. Over time, it gained a figurative sense to describe strictness and meticulousness.
Related Idioms:
"Rigor mortis"
Explanation:A Latin term used to describe the stiffening of muscles after death, reflecting the original meaning of rigor.
Misconceptions:
Confusing rigor with rigor mortis.
Explanation:While rigor mortis is a specific term for the postmortem stiffening of muscles, rigor has a broader meaning related to strictness, thoroughness, and precision in various contexts. It is not limited to the context of death.