gelid
UK[ˈdʒelɪd]US[ˈdʒelɪd]
adj
extremely cold; icy
Morpheme Breakdown
gel
id
gel
cold
id
adjective suffix
Etymology
the word 'gelid' has a direct lineage from the latin adjective 'gelidus', meaning very cold or frosty, which itself derives from the latin noun 'gelu' (frost, ice). this root is part of a wider indo-european family of words related to coldness, seen in english words like 'gel' and 'jelly', which originally pertained to a congealed, cold state. the suffix '-id' is a common latin adjectival ending, used to denote possession of a specific quality. thus, the literal construction 'gel-id' translates to 'having the quality of frost or ice', a meaning that has remained remarkably consistent in its modern english usage to describe an intense, penetrating cold.
Analysis
Structure: gel (cold) + id (adjective suffix)
gel (from latin 'gelu', meaning frost, ice, cold) + id (a latin-derived suffix forming adjectives, often meaning 'having the quality of')
Examples
the explorers were met by a gelid wind as they reached the mountain pass.
she plunged her hands into the gelid water of the stream.
his gelid stare made it clear he was not in a forgiving mood.