Lividity
/lɪˈvɪd.ɪ.ti/noun
The state or condition of being livid, especially a bluish-purple discoloration of the skin.
Did you know?In older English, *livid* could mean not just angry, but literally bluish or lead-colored, which is why medical “lividity” describes the dark pooling of blood after death.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*leip-
“to be sticky, fat, or to smear”
Latin
Latin
lividus
“bluish, lead-colored; bruised”
Late Latin
Latin
lividitas
“blueness; bruised condition”
Middle English
English
lividite
“bluish discoloration or bruised state”
Modern English
English
lividity
“the state of being livid; especially postmortem discoloration of the skin”