How Do You Spell STIFFENS?

Pronunciation: [stˈɪfənz] (IPA)

The word "stiffens" is spelled with a double "f" and an "e" in the middle. The IPA phonetic transcription of this word is /ˈstɪfənz/. The "ff" indicates that the "f" sound is doubled, which emphasizes the hardness of the "f". The "e" in the middle, called a schwa, is an unstressed vowel sound that makes the preceding "i" sound like a short "i". Together, these elements create the phonetic sound of "stiffens", which means to make something rigid or inflexible.

STIFFENS Meaning and Definition

1. The transitive verb "stiffens" is used to describe the action of making something rigid, inflexible, or firm. When an object or material stiffens, it loses its pliability or ability to bend easily. It signifies the process of becoming less malleable or becoming resistant to pressure or force. Stiffening can occur in various contexts, including physical objects and human or animal muscles.

   In the context of physical objects, stiffening refers to the process of making something harder, more rigid, or less flexible. This can be achieved through the addition of certain substances, heat treatment, or exposure to external forces. For instance, when clay stiffens, it becomes firm and more suitable for shaping or molding. Similarly, when a wire stiffens, it becomes less bendable and more difficult to manipulate.

   Concerning the human body, stiffening generally indicates the contraction or tightening of muscles. It often occurs as a response to certain stimuli like cold temperature, fear, or stress. For example, when a person gets scared, their body may experience a momentary stiffening, commonly referred to as a "flight or fight" response. Moreover, stiffening is a characteristic symptom of medical conditions such as rigor mortis, where after death, muscles become hard and rigid.

   Overall, "stiffens" is a verb that denotes the process of making something rigid, inflexible, or less flexible, whether it pertains to physical objects or the human body.

Common Misspellings for STIFFENS

• stiffless
• stiffnes
• stiffners
• stiffin
• stiffins
• stoffers
• stifels
• stifen
• stifness
• stipens
• stiffles
• stiffels
• stuffes
• stiffend
• steffens
• steffanus
• tiffens
• Hiffens
• Stiliens
• Steffins
• Stoffes
• Stiffils
• stifenns

Etymology of STIFFENS

The word "stiffens" is derived from the verb "stiffen". The etymology of "stiffen" can be traced back to the Old English word "stīfan", which means "to make stiff or rigid". This Old English term is believed to have been derived from the Proto-Germanic word "stīfijaną", which has the same meaning. Ultimately, the Proto-Germanic term can be traced back to the Proto-Indo-European root "*stībʰ-", which conveys the idea of "stiff" or "rigid". The word "stiffen" has remained relatively unchanged in its form and meaning throughout its historical development.

Similar spelling words for STIFFENS

• stephen,
• stephenson,
• stiffening,
• stiffen,
• stiffness,
• Steven,
• steffens,
• steuben,
• Steffan,
• stevenson,
• Steffen,
• stevens,
• Steffenson,
• stiffened,
• stefanski,
• steffensen,
• Stefan,
• steepen,
• stiffener,
• Stephens.

Conjugate verb Stiffens

CONDITIONAL

I would stiffen

we would stiffen

you would stiffen

he/she/it would stiffen

they would stiffen

FUTURE

I will stiffen

we will stiffen

you will stiffen

he/she/it will stiffen

they will stiffen

FUTURE PERFECT

I will have stiffened

we will have stiffened

you will have stiffened

he/she/it will have stiffened

they will have stiffened

PAST

I stiffened

we stiffened

you stiffened

he/she/it stiffened

they stiffened

PAST PERFECT

I had stiffened

we had stiffened

you had stiffened

he/she/it had stiffened

they had stiffened

PRESENT

I stiffen

we stiffen

you stiffen

he/she/it stiffens

they stiffen

PRESENT PERFECT

I have stiffened

we have stiffened

you have stiffened

he/she/it has stiffened

they have stiffened

I am stiffening

we are stiffening

you are stiffening

he/she/it is stiffening

they are stiffening

I was stiffening

we were stiffening

you were stiffening

he/she/it was stiffening

they were stiffening

I will be stiffening

we will be stiffening

you will be stiffening

he/she/it will be stiffening

they will be stiffening

I have been stiffening

we have been stiffening

you have been stiffening

he/she/it has been stiffening

they have been stiffening

I had been stiffening

we had been stiffening

you had been stiffening

he/she/it had been stiffening

they had been stiffening

I will have been stiffening

we will have been stiffening

you will have been stiffening

he/she/it will have been stiffening

they will have been stiffening

I would have stiffened

we would have stiffened

you would have stiffened

he/she/it would have stiffened

they would have stiffened

I would be stiffening

we would be stiffening

you would be stiffening

he/she/it would be stiffening

they would be stiffening

I would have been stiffening

we would have been stiffening

you would have been stiffening

he/she/it would have been stiffening

they would have been stiffening