Definition of GELIDITIES

Did You Know?

Gelid first appeared in English late in the 16th century, coming to our language from Latin gelidus, which ultimately derives from the noun gelu, meaning "frost" or "cold." (Our noun gelatin, which can refer to an edible jelly that undergoes a cooling process as part of its formation, comes from a related Latin word: gelare, meaning "to freeze.") Gelid is used in English to describe anything of extremely cold temperature (as in "the gelid waters of the Arctic Ocean"), but the word can also be used figuratively to describe a person with a cold demeanor (as in "the criminal's gelid stare").

Examples of gelid in a Sentence

the Titanic passengers could not long survive the gelid waters of the North Atlantic the judge listened with the gelid detachment of someone who had heard it all before

Recent Examples on the Web Settings range globally without fanfare, as do Krauss’s gelid portraits of modern arrangements. — Washington Post, "Reading Nicole Krauss’s ‘To Be a Man’ feels like talking all night with a brilliant friend," 5 Nov. 2020 Admittedly, former commercials director Niccol is terrific at composing looks; however, an assemblage of glossy, gelid sequences does not necessarily add up to a satisfying cohesive film. — Duane Byrge, The Hollywood Reporter, "'Gattaca': THR's 1997 Review," 24 Oct. 2019 Ungainly in looks, but a natural for work — each hoof a snowshoe, with hollow fur for warmth and to buoy them across gelid Arctic rivers. — Christopher Solomon, New York Times, "Exploring a Timeless Wilderness, Before the Drilling Begins," 13 Sep. 2019 But other ailments that are either directly or tangentially related to the gelid weather have multiplied. — John Benson, cleveland.com, "Lakewood City Council makes good with schools regarding tax financing agreement," 4 Jan. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'gelid.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.