inelastic

adj

Etymology: Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *né Proto-Indo-European *n̥- Proto-Italic *n̥- Latin in-bor. Middle English in- English in- Proto-Indo-European *h₁elh₂- Proto-Indo-European *h₁l̥h₂-tósder. Ancient Greek ἐλᾰστός (elăstós) Proto-Indo-European *-ikos Proto-Italic *-ikos New Latin -icus New Latin elasticusbor. French élastiquebor. English elastic English inelastic From in- + elastic.

1. Lacking elasticity; inflexible, unyielding.

   “He spoke languidly, and only those few words, like a watch with an inelastic spring, that just ticks a moment or two and stops again.”

   “I cannot believe that Christ himself intended that his religion should be so inelastic, so hard and fast, so cruel as you imply.”

2. Insensitive to changes in price.

   “perfectly inelastic supply”

   “A different approach is needed now, as there is more discretionary travel which, unlike the use of season tickets, does not have inelastic demand characteristics.”

3. Resistant to swings during elections; predictable.