starched
UK: stɑːtʃt | US: stɑːrtʃt
adj. treated with starch to make stiff or rigid
vt. past tense of "starch" (to stiffen fabric with starch)
The word "starched" combines "starch," derived from Old English stearc (stiff, rigid), with the suffix "-ed" indicating past tense or adjectival form. Starch, originally a natural stiffening agent extracted from plants, became associated with rigidness in both literal (fabric treatment) and figurative contexts. The "-ed" suffix solidifies its role as a descriptor for stiffness, often applied to clothing or formal behavior.
She wore a starched white blouse to the interview.
The chef starched the napkins for the formal dinner.
His starched demeanor made him seem unapproachable.
The curtains were heavily starched to hold their shape.
Grandma always starched my collars when I was a child.