Dear to whom may it concern,
What is the difference between Rigidity and Rigidness?
Would you please make some examples for rigidness?
With the best regard
Mitra
I don’t detect any difference in meaning, but “rigidness” seems a less common word.
Dear Mitra,
Where did you find those? I found several examples on the net.
Both of them are nouns referring to the stiffness of objects or people / attitude. The difference could be in use or a matter of style in speech or writing.
Some examples:
“sometimes the rigidity of the headmaster’s discipline was quiete excessive”
“Abdominal rigidity is stiffness of the muscles in the belly area, which can be felt when touched or pressed.”
“Attention!” commanded Sergeant Greer, startling the troop into rigidness.” (The Adventures of Piang the Moro Jungle Boy A Book for Young and Old)
“This explains to me the apparent rigidness of his words, and unveils the mystery of his pretended wisdom.” (The International Monthly, Volume 3, No. 1, April, 1851)
Regards from Mexico,
Ozzy
Hello Dozy,
As I was checking some examples, the examples of rigidness all seem to be from long time ago.
Rigidity → more modern, rigidness → old-fashioned.
Do you agree?
Regards,
Ozzy
To be honest, I really don’t know whether or how the relative frequencies of these words have changed over time. However, “rigidness” doesn’t sound old-fashioned to me, just less usual.
Dear Friends,
Thank you very much indeed.
Regards
Mitra