Gelid

Gelid is an adjective meaning extremely cold, typically describing air, weather, or environments that have a piercing or biting chill. The term is more literary and formal than everyday synonyms such as cold or frigid.

Originating from the Latin gelidus meaning icy, gelid entered English in the early modern period. It is related to gelare, to congeal, and shares a common Indo-European root with other cold- or ice-related terms. In contemporary use it remains primarily literary.

Usage and nuance: Gelid is used to evoke mood or atmosphere, often in descriptive or fictional writing. It is less common in ordinary speech and most common in poetry or elevated prose. Synonyms include frigid, icy, bitter, and glacial; antonyms are warm or hot. Example: the gelid winds swept across the plateau, and the lake lay still under a pale light.

Forms and attentions: Noun forms include gelidity; gelidness is rare. The adverbial form gelidly is uncommon and often judged archaic. Although occasionally found in scientific or geographic descriptions, gelid primarily serves a literary function. See also: synonyms and related terms for cold climates.