wooden
Meaning
made of wood
stiff, awkward, or unnatural in manner; lacking ease or grace
Structure
Usage
the old house had a beautiful wooden floor that creaked in the night.
his performance was criticized for being somewhat wooden and unconvincing.
she placed the toys back in the large wooden chest.
Etymology
The word "wooden" is a native English formation, built upon the Old English noun "wudu," meaning "tree" or "the substance from trees." The suffix "-en" is an Old English adjectival suffix used to indicate the material something is made from, as seen in other words like "golden" or "woolen." Therefore, the literal meaning "made of wood" is direct and transparent. Over time, the meaning extended metaphorically to describe people or movements that are stiff or lacking in natural flexibility, much like an object carved from wood.
Analysis
wood (old english, noun, the hard fibrous substance from trees); en (old english, adjective-forming suffix, meaning "made of" or "having the qualities of")