Emily Dickinson Lexicon

COLD, a. [Sax. cald; G. kalt; D. koud, contracted; Goth. calds; Basque, galda; Sw. kall; Dan. kold; and the noun, kulde. The latter seems to be connected with kul, a coal, and kuler, to blow strong. But the connection may be casual. In Swedish, kyla signifies to cool, and to burn; thus connecting cool, cold, with the L. caleo, to be hot. Both cold and heat may be from rushing, raging, and this word may be from the same root as gale. If not, cool would seem to be allied to L. gelo.]

1. Not warm or hot; gelid; frigid; a relative term. A substance is cold to the touch when it is less warm than the body, and when in contact, the heat of the body passes from the body to the substance; as, cold air; a cold stone; cold water. It denotes a greater degree of the quality than cool. [See the noun.]
2. Having the sensation of cold; chill; shivering, or inclined to shiver; as, I am cold.
3. Having cold qualities; as, a cold plant. – Bacon.
4. Frigid; wanting passion, zeal or ardor; indifferent; unconcerned; not animated, or easily excited into action; as, a cold spectator; a cold Christian; a cold lover, or friend; a cold temper. – Hooker. Addison. Thou art neither cold nor hot. – Rev. iii.
5. Not moving; unaffecting; not animated; not able to excite feeling; spiritless; as, a cold discourse; a cold jest. – Addison.
6. Reserved; coy; not affectionate, cordial or friendly; indicating indifference; as, a cold look; a cold return of civilities; a cold reception. – Clarendon.
7. Not heated by sensual desire. – Shak.
8. Not hasty; not violent. – Johnson.
9. Not affecting the scent strongly. – Shak.
10. Not having the scent strongly affected. – Shak.