congeal

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   to become or cause something to become thick, semisolid, or solid, especially through cooling

   The sauce will congeal as it cools.

2. 2
   verb

   figuratively, to take on a fixed, rigid, or definite form

   Several complaints began to congeal into an organized campaign.

Simplified etymology

Congeal entered English in the late Middle Ages and is traced to an ancient root shared by cold and Latin gelu, meaning frost. The same root is also associated with jelly and cool.

From Middle English congelen, through Old French congeler, from Latin congelare 'to freeze together,' formed from con- 'together, completely' + gelare 'to freeze.' The figurative sense developed from material becoming fixed or solid.

Topics

External links

• Google Images
• Cambridge Dictionary
• Wiktionary