STIFF, a. [Gr.] 1. Not easily bent; not flexible or pliant; not flaccid; rigid; applicable to any substance; as stiff wood; stiff paper; cloth stiff with starch; a limb stiff with frost.They, rising on stiff pinions, tower the mid aerial sky.2. Not liquid or fluid; thick and tenacious; inspissated; not soft nor hard. Thus melted metals grow stiff as they cool; they are stiff before they are hard. The paste is too stiff, or not stiff enough.3. Strong; violent; impetuous in motion; as in seamens language, a stiff gale or breeze.4. Hardy; stubborn; not easily subdued.How stiff is my vile sense!5. Obstinate; pertinacious; firm in perseverance or resistance.It is a shame to stand stiff in a foolish argument.A war ensues; the Cretans own their cause, stiff to defend their hospitable laws.6. Harsh; formal; constrained; not natural and easy; as a stiff formal style.7. Formal in manner; constrained; affected; starched; not easy or natural; as stiff behavior.The French are open, familiar and talkative; the Italians stiff, ceremonious and reserved.8. Strongly maintained, or asserted with good evidence.This is stiff news.9. In seamens language, a stiff vessel is one that will bear sufficient sail without danger of oversetting. |
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In celebration of Noah Webster's Birthday (October 16, 2009), we have prepared an updated website. 
