flaccid
UK[ˈflæksɪd]US[ˈflæksɪd]
adj
soft and weak; not firm or hard
adj
lacking force, vigor, or effectiveness
Morpheme Breakdown
flacc
id
flacc
flabby
id
adjective suffix
Etymology
the word flaccid entered english in the early 17th century, directly from the latin adjective 'flaccidus', meaning 'flabby' or 'drooping'. this latin term is derived from 'flaccus', which originally described something that is flabby or limp. the semantic journey is straightforward, with the core meaning of physical limpness or softness persisting from its latin origin into modern english, where it can describe both physical flabbiness and metaphorical weakness or ineffectiveness.
Analysis
Structure: flacc (flabby) + id (adjective suffix)
flacc is from latin 'flaccus', meaning flabby or limp. id is a latin-derived adjective-forming suffix.
Examples
the patient's muscles became flaccid after the nerve damage.
she gave a flaccid performance, lacking her usual energy and conviction.
the overripe fruit felt unpleasantly flaccid to the touch.