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Synonyms
pet·ri·fy (pĕt́rə-fī́)

[Middle English petrifien, to harden, from Old French petrifier, Latin petra, rock (from Greek petrā; see per-2), + Old French -fier, -fy.]

verb: -fied, -fy·ing, -fies. 

transitive verb 

  1. To convert (wood or other organic matter) into a stony replica by petrifaction.
  2. To cause to become stiff or stonelike; deaden.
  3. To stun or paralyze with terror; daze.

intransitive verb 

To become stony, especially by petrifaction.