Pĕt'ri-fy1, v. t.
v. t. [imp. & p. p. PETRIFIED; p. pr. & vb. n. PETRIFYING.] [Fr. pétrifier, Sp. petrificar, It. petrificare, from Lat. petra, Gr. πέτρα, rock, stone, and facere, to make.]
Sense 1. To convert to stone or stony substance, as an animal or vegetable substance.
North of Quito there is a river that petrifies any sort of wood or leaves. Kirwan.
Sense 2. To fix; to make callous or obdurate; as, to petrify the heart. “And petrify a genius to a dunce.” Pope. “The petrifying accuracy with which he attended to every form of civility.” W. Scott.