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

The dunes eventually kneeled to the Atlantic, stretching out as a broad, empty beach pierced with totems of petrified tree trunks. —Michael Snyder, Travel + Leisure, 15 Jan. 2025

Her husband pulled his hand out of debris near the still-standing fireplace, holding up a piece of petrified wood handed down by his grandmother. —Manuel Valdes, Julie Watson, John Seewer and Heather Hollingsworth The Associated Press, arkansasonline.com, 11 Jan. 2025

Jerry Fuller, Coconut Creek A petrified Congress Congress is a part of one of the three branches of government. —Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 6 Jan. 2025

Archaeological excavations near the city of Aghdam have revealed grape seeds and petrified clay jars that date back 3,500 years. —Daphne Ewing-Chow, Forbes, 23 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

from past participle of petrify

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1