English Explanatory Dictionary

rigor mortis

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. Temporary stiffness of the body's muscles and joints following death.
verb
  1. To stiffen the muscles and joints with, or as if with, rigor mortis.

Pronunciation

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-rigor mortis.wav

Word forms

rigor mortis rigor mortises rigour mortis rigor mortising rigor mortised

Etymology

Learned borrowing from New Latin rigor mortis (literally “stiffness of death”). First attested in 1842.

Synonyms

death-stiffness rigor

Derived words

break rigor brickor mortis rigor rigored
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