petrify

[ pe-truh-fahy ]
See synonyms for petrify on Thesaurus.com
verb (used with object),pet·ri·fied, pet·ri·fy·ing.
  1. to convert into stone or a stony substance.

  2. to benumb or paralyze with astonishment, horror, or other strong emotion: I was petrified with fear.

  1. to make rigid or inert; harden; deaden: The tragedy in his life petrified his emotions.

verb (used without object),pet·ri·fied, pet·ri·fy·ing.
  1. to become petrified.

Origin of petrify

1
From the Middle French word petrifier, dating back to 1585–95. See petri-, -fy

Other words for petrify

Other words from petrify

  • pet·ri·fi·a·ble, adjective
  • pe·trif·i·cant [pi-trif-i-kuhnt], /pɪˈtrɪf ɪ kənt/, adjective
  • pet·ri·fi·er, noun
  • un·pet·ri·fy·ing, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use petrify in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for petrify

petrify

/ (ˈpɛtrɪˌfaɪ) /


verb-fies, -fying or -fied
  1. (tr; often passive) to convert (organic material, esp plant material) into a fossilized form by impregnation with dissolved minerals so that the original appearance is preserved

  2. to make or become dull, unresponsive, insensitive, etc; deaden

  1. (tr; often passive) to stun or daze with horror, fear, etc

Origin of petrify

1
C16: from French pétrifier, ultimately from Greek petra stone, rock

Derived forms of petrify

  • petrifier, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012