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Rigor mortis

2 stages from Latin to English.

Today it means the stiffening of the body after death

Where does the word "rigor mortis" come from? It comes from Latin rigor mortis, adopted directly into English (1830s).

1
Stage 1 of 2
rigor mortis
Latin · ancient
"stiffness of death"
'stiffness of death'
2
Stage 2 of 2
rigor mortis
English · 1830s
"death stiffening"
taken into medical and forensic English
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Read the full story

Rigor mortis’s story begins in Latin: rigor mortis meant “stiffness of death.” 'stiffness of death'. It reached English by 1830s as rigor mortis. Taken into medical and forensic English. Today, rigor mortis means the stiffening of the body after death.