verb
petrify
Petrify (verb) means to turn to stone: to harden organic matter by permeating with water and depositing dissolved minerals.
verb
1
To turn to stone: to harden organic matter by permeating with water and depositing dissolved minerals.
2
To make something stiff and hard, as if it had turned to stone.
3
To make someone so frightened that they cannot move.
4
To turn to stone, or to gain a stone-like hardness, as when organic material is transformed by calcareous deposits.
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Etymology
It reached English from Middle French pétrifier, which came from Medieval Latin petrificāre, from Latin petra (“rock”), from Ancient Greek πέτρα (pétra, “rock”) plus -ficāre, from facere (“do, make”); it is equivalent to petro- plus -ify.
Synonyms
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ossify
lapidify
rigidify
Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for petrify
See all rhymes for petrify →Frequently asked questions
What is the meaning of petrify?
"petrify" (verb) means to turn to stone: to harden organic matter by permeating with water and depositing dissolved minerals.
What is another word for petrify?
Other words for "petrify" include ossify, lapidify, rigidify.
What is the opposite of petrify?
The opposite of "petrify" is reassure.
What are the different meanings of petrify?
"petrify" has 3 main meanings: 1. To turn to stone: to harden organic matter by permeating with water and depositing dissolved minerals; 2. To make something stiff and hard, as if it had turned to stone; 3. To make someone so frightened that they cannot move.
