PETRIFIED Meaning and
Definition
-
Petrified, as an adjective, refers to a state of extreme fear, astonishment, or paralysis often resulting from a perceived threat or shocking event. It describes the state of being so overwhelmed or terrified that one becomes immobile or frozen in place, as if turned to stone. This term is derived from the Greek word "petro-" meaning "stone" or "rock."
In its original context, petrification was experienced as a physical transformation in which an organic material, such as wood or bone, becomes mineralized and turns into stone. Over time, however, petrified has come to symbolize the emotional or psychological reaction to an overwhelming or terrifying experience.
When someone is petrified, their body and senses seize up, rendering them unable to move, speak, or act. This can be a natural instinctive response to perceived danger, triggering a state of fight, flight, or even freeze. It can also manifest as a result of shock or disbelief in the face of something distressing or horrifying.
Furthermore, petrified can be used metaphorically to describe a heightened level of anxiety or dread. It conveys the intense and immobilizing fear that renders an individual motionless or unable to think rationally.
Overall, petrified encompasses the feelings of extreme terror, shock, and paralysis that can arise from a threatening or shocking situation, representing a state of being frozen in fear or astonishment.
-
Converted into stone; amazed; astounded.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
Top Common Misspellings for PETRIFIED *
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
Other Common Misspellings for PETRIFIED
Etymology of PETRIFIED
The word "petrified" comes from the Latin word "petrificare", which is composed of two components: "petra", meaning "rock", and "facere", meaning "to make". Therefore, the literal meaning of "petrificare" is "to make into stone". This word eventually evolved into "petrified" in the English language, retaining its original sense of "turned to stone" and also gaining the figurative meaning of being extremely frightened or paralyzed with fear.
Similar spelling words for PETRIFIED
Conjugate verb Petrified
CONDITIONAL
I
would petrify
we
would petrify
you
would petrify
he/she/it
would petrify
they
would petrify
FUTURE
I
will petrify
we
will petrify
you
will petrify
he/she/it
will petrify
they
will petrify
FUTURE PERFECT
I
will have petrified
we
will have petrified
you
will have petrified
he/she/it
will have petrified
they
will have petrified
PAST
I
petrified
we
petrified
you
petrified
he/she/it
petrified
they
petrified
PAST PERFECT
I
had petrified
we
had petrified
you
had petrified
he/she/it
had petrified
they
had petrified
PRESENT
I
petrify
we
petrify
you
petrify
he/she/it
petrifies
they
petrify
PRESENT PERFECT
I
have petrified
we
have petrified
you
have petrified
he/she/it
has petrified
they
have petrified
I
am petrifying
we
are petrifying
you
are petrifying
he/she/it
is petrifying
they
are petrifying
I
was petrifying
we
were petrifying
you
were petrifying
he/she/it
was petrifying
they
were petrifying
I
will be petrifying
we
will be petrifying
you
will be petrifying
he/she/it
will be petrifying
they
will be petrifying
I
have been petrifying
we
have been petrifying
you
have been petrifying
he/she/it
has been petrifying
they
have been petrifying
I
had been petrifying
we
had been petrifying
you
had been petrifying
he/she/it
had been petrifying
they
had been petrifying
I
will have been petrifying
we
will have been petrifying
you
will have been petrifying
he/she/it
will have been petrifying
they
will have been petrifying
I
would have petrified
we
would have petrified
you
would have petrified
he/she/it
would have petrified
they
would have petrified
I
would be petrifying
we
would be petrifying
you
would be petrifying
he/she/it
would be petrifying
they
would be petrifying
I
would have been petrifying
we
would have been petrifying
you
would have been petrifying
he/she/it
would have been petrifying
they
would have been petrifying
Infographic
Add the infographic to your website:
