rigor.

1. Stiffening of muscles after death, commonly in rigor mortis.

2. Strict thoroughness or precision in method or practice.

3. An episode of intense shivering, often associated with fever.

Use it for

Words that belong together

• rigor mortis

On the page

Rigor mortis had stiffened the body.

The examiner noted the onset of rigor.

Usage notes

Primary category: horror. Forms: Usually uncountable. Legacy lexical fields mirror sense 1 only. Use numbered sense fields for all meanings.