petrified

adjective

pet·​ri·​fied ˈpe-trə-ˌfīd 

1

: converted into stone through a slow process of mineralization

petrified wood

a petrified forest

And at the Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History's annual dinosaur ball, about 800 patrons in black tie or gown waltz among the petrified remains of the once-glorious creatures.

—Sheldon Teitelbaum

2

: overwhelmingly fearful

was petrified of speaking in public

: rendered motionless or unable to act by fear

Charlie climbed onto the bed and tried to calm the three old people who were still petrified with fear. "Please don't be frightened," he said. "It's quite safe. And we're going to the most wonderful place in the world!"

—Roald Dahl

Winky's petrified brown eyes were visible through her fingers. She seemed too appalled to speak.

—J. K. Rowling

Examples of petrified in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Façades and colleges extended up the road, all the way to the statue of a notorious colonialist that stood in a stone recess, surrounded by a twisted and petrified decorative frame. —Daisy Hildyard, The New Yorker, 15 Dec. 2024

More petrified wood pieces are available inside the store where visitors are greeted by a cigar store Indian sporting Plains regalia, along with other touristy items like handcrafted arrows, drums, green glass saguaros, imported baskets and Minnetonka moccasins. —Debra Utacia Krol, USA TODAY, 1 Dec. 2024

Texas has designated an official state stone (petrified palmwood), shell (lightning whelk) and grass (sideoats grama). —Michael Barnes, Austin American-Statesman, 22 Nov. 2024

The main attraction, an 80-foot-long petrified tree, lies in pieces across one end of the parking lot. —Debra Utacia Krol, USA TODAY, 1 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

from past participle of petrify

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1