ice-cold
Meaning
Extremely cold; as cold as ice.
(of a drink) Served very cold, often with ice.
(figurative) Completely lacking in warmth of feeling; very unfriendly.
Structure
Usage
She handed me an ice-cold bottle of water from the cooler.
His handshake was ice-cold and limp.
She gave him an ice-cold stare that silenced the room.
Etymology
The compound 'ice-cold' is a straightforward and powerful descriptive term formed within English by combining two native Germanic words. 'Ice', from Old English 'īs', refers to the solid, frozen state of water, which has long served as the ultimate benchmark for extreme cold in temperate climates. 'Cold', from Old English 'cald', is the fundamental adjective for low temperature. When combined, 'ice' acts as an intensifier, creating a metaphor that means not just cold, but 'as cold as ice itself.' This literal meaning easily extended into figurative use to describe emotional detachment or a complete lack of warmth in personality or demeanor.
Analysis
ice: From Old English 'īs', of Germanic origin; related to Dutch 'ijs' and German 'Eis'. Functions as a noun used attributively to intensify the following adjective. cold: From Old English 'cald, ceald', of Germanic origin; related to Dutch 'koud' and German 'kalt'. Functions as the core adjective describing low temperature.