Rigidness; want of pliableness or flexibility; the firm texture or state of a substance which renders it difficult to bend it; as the stiffness or iron or wood; the stiffness of a frozen limb.

Thickness; spissitude; a state between softness and hardness; as the stiffness of sirup, paste, size or starch.

Torpidness; inaptitude to motion. An icy stiffness benumbs my blood.

Tension; as the stiffness of a cord.

Obstinacy; stubbornness; contumaciousness. The vices of old age have the stiffness of it too. Stiffness of mind is not from adherence to truth, but submission to prejudice.

Formality of manner; constraint; affected precision. All this religion sat easily upon him, without stiffness and constraint.

Rigorousness; harshness. But speak no word to her of these sad plights, which her too constant stiffness doth constrain.

Affected or constrained manner of expression or writing; want of natural simplicity and ease; as stiffness of style.