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Added 10 October 2026

petrify

/ˈpɛ.tɹəˌfaɪ/ verb

In Latin: lapidesco Wiktionary

verb Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about petrify at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

To turn to stone: to harden organic matter by permeating with water and depositing dissolved minerals.
To produce rigidity akin to stone.
To immobilize with fright.

Origin

From Middle French pétrifier, from Medieval Latin petrificāre, from Latin petra (“rock”), from Ancient Greek πέτρα (pétra, “rock”) + -ficāre, from facere (“do, make”), equivalent to petro- + -ify.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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