FIXED

FIXED carries multiple meanings that all revolve around stability, permanence, or resolution. When something is fixed, it has been repaired—a fixed car runs again, a fixed computer boots up properly. This sense of restoration makes "fixed" one of our most reassuring words, promising that broken things can be made whole again.

In its sense of "secured in place," fixed describes immovable objects or unchanging conditions. Fixed assets in accounting don't move or change quickly. A fixed smile doesn't waver. Fixed costs remain constant regardless of production levels. This meaning emphasizes predictability and stability in an uncertain world.

The word takes darker tones when describing predetermined or rigged outcomes. A "fixed" game has been dishonestly arranged; a "fixed" election undermines democracy. This usage dates back to the 1880s, originating in horse racing where corrupt parties would "fix" races. The contradiction—using a word meaning "repair" to describe corruption—highlights language's capacity for irony.

In science and mathematics, "fixed" denotes constants and reference points. A fixed point in mathematics remains unchanged by a function. Fixed stars maintain apparent positions relative to each other (unlike planets, which "wander"). Chemistry uses "fixed air" as an old term for carbon dioxide. These technical uses emphasize the concept's importance across disciplines.

For Scrabble players, FIXED offers outstanding value. The F (4 points) and X (8 points) combine with common letters for 16 base points. Strategic placement of the X on premium squares can yield 30-40 points easily. The word's past-tense -ED ending provides flexibility—you might play FIX first, then add ED later. FIXED can also extend to FIXEDLY or connect with prefixes like UNFIXED, maximizing scoring opportunities.