erect
/ɪˈɹɛkt/
Word Rarity
Rare
Frequency: 3.52 in modern English
7
Scrabble Score
5
Letters
2
Syllables
4
Unique Chars
Meaning
adj
Rigid, firm; standing out perpendicularly, especially as the result of stimulation.
Example Sentences
- "Among the Greek colonies and churches of Asia, Philadelphia is still erect—a column in a scene of ruins."
- "The penis should be fully erect before commencing copulation."
- "erect nipples"
- "OK, baby, I'm erect now. Let's get it on!"
- "But who is he, by years / Bowed, but erect in heart?"
- "His piercing Eyes, erect, appear to vievv / Superior VVorlds, and look all Nature thro'."
Etymology
From Middle English erect, a borrowing from Latin ērectus (“upright”), past participle of ērigō (“raise, set up”), from ē- (“out”) + regō (“to direct, keep straight, guide”).
Origin
Word Breakdown
- Root: *h₃reǵ-, erect, ērectus, erecten
Usage
Inflected Forms
more erect (comparative)
most erect (superlative)
erects (present, singular)
erecting (participle, present)
erected (participle, past)
erected (past)