brassbound

C2+ Topic:Describing Qualities

Also spelled brass-bound

US /ˈbræsˌbaʊnd/ UK /ˈbrɑːsˌbaʊnd/ See IPA manual

adj

Meanings

1

adj
bound or trimmed with brass; rigidly inflexible or hidebound

The brassbound trunk had survived a dozen voyages.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adj · bound or trimmed with... inflexible rigid hidebound unyielding stubborn obstinate

Opposites

flexible adaptable pliantopen-minded

Word family

Related forms brass brassy

Etymology

A compound of brass (Old English bræs, 'an alloy of copper and zinc') + bound (past participle of bind). Originally literal (trimmed with brass), it gained the figurative sense 'rigidly inflexible.'

bræs Old English

View etymology graph ->

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Describing Qualities

# brassbound

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** adj
**IPA (US):** ˈbræsˌbaʊnd
**IPA (UK):** ˈbrɑːsˌbaʊnd

## Meanings
1. bound or trimmed with brass; rigidly inflexible or hidebound

## Examples
- The brassbound trunk had survived a dozen voyages.

## Synonyms
- inflexible
- rigid
- hidebound
- unyielding
- stubborn
- obstinate

## Antonyms
- flexible
- adaptable
- pliant
- open-minded

## Related Forms
- brass
- brassy

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: bræs

## Etymology
A compound of brass (Old English bræs, 'an alloy of copper and zinc') + bound (past participle of bind). Originally literal (trimmed with brass), it gained the figurative sense 'rigidly inflexible.'

## AI Etymology
Brassbound is an adjective meaning "bound or trimmed with brass; rigidly inflexible or hidebound". Historically, it is a compound of brass (Old English bræs, 'an alloy of copper and zinc') + bound (past participle of bind). Originally literal (trimmed with brass), it gained the figurative sense 'rigidly inflexible.'. The visible construction is part of the etymology: brassbound is not just an unanalyzed simple word. The semantic history matters here: the earlier use is the starting point, and the modern sense, "bound or trimmed with brass; rigidly inflexible or hidebound", is the later or specialized English value. The historical chain is anchored in Old English bræs. Close English family members include brass, and brassy.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities

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brassbound

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