Definitions
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- adjective Causing immense
fear ; immobilising withfright ;scary ;frightening ;terrifying - verb Present participle of
petrify .
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
- adjective paralyzing with terror
Etymologies
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Examples
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Such are popularly known as petrifying springs, although they merely incrust the objects and do not convert them into stone.
The Elements of Geology William Harmon Norton 1900
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'A reed shaken with the wind, 'and without substance or solidity to resist, may be placed in what is called a petrifying well, and, by the infiltration of stony substance into its structure, may be turned into a rigid mass, like a little bar of iron.
Expositions of Holy Scripture: the Acts Alexander Maclaren 1868
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He halted and watched the young ones "petrifying" and disappearing on the ground before his eyes, and listening to the anxious calls of the old ones hidden in the thickets.
Chapter VIII 2010
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Chennel Jagesur, a second year Actuarial Science student who had her lectures disrupted, described their actions as "petrifying".
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He halted and watched the young ones "petrifying" and disappearing on the ground before his eyes, and listening to the anxious calls of the old ones hidden in the thickets.
Chapter VIII 1910
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Family describes 'petrifying' moments as tornado hit their Berwick home
Inform - Politics 2010
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There is far more to "petrifying" wood than just giving it "non-burning characteristics."
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There is far more to "petrifying" wood than just giving it "non-burning characteristics."
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And that's kind of petrifying but also exhilarating. "
unknown title 2009
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The idea of opening up my heart again was petrifying.
Live and Let Love Andrea Buchanan 2011
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