frozen
UK: ˈfrəʊzn | US: ˈfroʊzn
adj. turned into ice or hardened by cold
adj. preserved by freezing
adj. (of a person) very cold or emotionally unresponsive
frozen = freez<to turn to ice> + en<past participle suffix>
- freez: From Old English frēosan ("to freeze"), related to Proto-Germanic freusaną ("to frost, freeze"). Retains the core meaning of becoming solid due to cold.
- en: A past participle suffix in English, derived from Old English -en, used to form adjectives or passive verbs (e.g., "broken," "spoken").
Etymology Origin:
The word "frozen" traces back to Old English frēosan, reflecting the primal human experience of cold transforming liquids into solids. The suffix -en solidifies (pun intended) its role as a descriptor of completed action—something that has been frozen. Over time, it expanded metaphorically to describe emotional coldness or preserved states (e.g., frozen food).
The lake was frozen solid after a week of subzero temperatures.
She stored the frozen vegetables in the freezer.
His frozen expression revealed nothing of his thoughts.
The project remained frozen due to budget cuts.
My fingers felt frozen after walking home without gloves.