Word a Day
petrify
What does petrify mean?
petrify (verb): to immobilize with fright.
Definition: Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.
How do you pronounce petrify?
/ˈpɛtɹəˌfaɪ/ (IPA, American English). The app reads every word aloud.
Where does petrify come from?
From Middle French pétrifier, from Medieval Latin petrificāre.
Etymology: Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Test yourself: do you know “petrify”?
Tap an answer to check it. The same questions the app asks.
What does “petrify” mean?
to immobilize with fright
Right! That's what “petrify” means.
to occur at the same time
Not quite: that's what coincide means.
to flash or gleam briefly
Not quite: that's what glint means.
to make (a bill) into law
Not quite: that's what enact means.
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