Petrific

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. Capable of turning organic matter into stone through mineral replacement ; extremely frightening or terrifying in effect
2. Having the power to convert living things into stone ; causing such overwhelming fear that one becomes rigid or immobilized
3. Able to fossilize or mineralize organic material into rock ; producing intense fear that paralyzes or petrifies someone with dread

Etymology: Petrific is a rare word that goes back to post-classical Latin "petrificus," which combined "petra," meaning "rock" or "stone," with a suffix meaning "making" or "causing." Its root sits behind a large family of English words, including "petrify" and "petrified," all built on the same image of something turning to stone. The word's whole meaning is written into its parts: a petrific thing is one that causes stone-like hardening. The Latin "petra" is itself borrowed from Greek "petra," and it is the same root that gives English "petrology," the study of rocks. Because the parts are so transparent, the word needs little explanation beyond the sense of its roots.