Definition of petrify

The word "petrify" has a fascinating etymology. It comes from the Latin word "petra," meaning "rock" or "stone." In Latin, the verb "petrificare" meant "to make hard as stone" or "to turn into stone." This was originally used in a literal sense, referring to the process of fossilization, where an animal or plant's remains become replaced with mineral deposits, creating a stone-like substance. The metaphorical sense of the word developed over time, meaning to be utterly shocked or amazed, as if one's emotions had been turned to stone. This meaning emerged in the 15th century and has been used ever since to describe a range of intense emotional states, from fear to awe. Today, we might say that someone's expressions petrified or that they were petrified with fear, using the original Latin sense to convey a sense of profound and enduring impact.