‖n. [ L. See Rigor., below. ] 1. Rigidity; stiffness. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (ed.) A sense of chilliness, with contraction of the skin; a convulsive shuddering or tremor, as in the chill preceding a fever. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖
Rigor caloris ety>[ L., rigor of heat ] (Physiol.), a form of rigor mortis induced by heat, as when the muscle of a mammal is heated to about 50° C. -- ‖
Rigor mortis ety>[ L. , rigor of death ], death stiffening; the rigidity of the muscles that occurs at death and lasts till decomposition sets in. It is due to the formation of myosin by the coagulation of the contents of the individual muscle fibers. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OE. rigour, OF. rigour, F. rigueur, from L. rigor, fr. rigere to be stiff. See Rigid. ] [ Written also rigour. ] 1. The becoming stiff or rigid; the state of being rigid; rigidity; stiffness; hardness. [ 1913 Webster ]

The rest his look
Bound with Gorgonian rigor not to move. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Med.) See 1st Rigor, 2. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Severity of climate or season; inclemency; as, the rigor of the storm; the rigors of winter. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Stiffness of opinion or temper; rugged sternness; hardness; relentless severity; hard-heartedness; cruelty. [ 1913 Webster ]

All his rigor is turned to grief and pity. Denham. [ 1913 Webster ]

If I shall be condemn'd
Upon surmises, . . . I tell you
'T is rigor and not law. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. Exactness without allowance, deviation, or indulgence; strictness; as, the rigor of criticism; to execute a law with rigor; to enforce moral duties with rigor; -- opposed to lenity. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. Severity of life; austerity; voluntary submission to pain, abstinence, or mortification. [ 1913 Webster ]

The prince lived in this convent with all the rigor and austerity of a capuchin. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

7. Violence; force; fury. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Whose raging rigor neither steel nor brass could stay. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Stiffness; rigidness; inflexibility; severity; austerity; sternness; harshness; strictness; exactness. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. rigorisme. ] 1. Rigidity in principle or practice; strictness; -- opposed to laxity. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Severity, as of style, or the like. Jefferson. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Ethics) Strictness in ethical principles; -- usually applied to ascetic ethics, and opposed to ethical latitudinarianism. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. [ Cf. F. rigoriste. ] One who is rigorous; -- sometimes applied to an extreme Jansenist. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ F. rigoureux, LL. rigorosus. See Rigor. ] 1. Manifesting, exercising, or favoring rigor; allowing no abatement or mitigation; scrupulously accurate; exact; strict; severe; relentless; as, a rigorous officer of justice; a rigorous execution of law; a rigorous definition or demonstration. [ 1913 Webster ]

He shall be thrown down the Tarpeian Rock
With rigorous hands. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

We do not connect the scattered phenomena into their rigorous unity. De Quincey. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Severe; intense; inclement; as, a rigorous winter. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Violent. [ Obs. ] “Rigorous uproar.” Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Mathematics, Logic) Adhering scrupulously and exactly to accepted principles; hence, logically valid; as, a rigorous proof. [ PJC ]

Syn. -- Rigid; inflexible; unyielding; stiff; severe; austere; stern; harsh; strict; exact. [ 1913 Webster ]

-- Rig"or*ous*ly, adv. -- Rig"or*ous*ness, n. [ 1913 Webster ]