/ ˈpetrɪfaɪ; NAmE / verb ( petri·fies , petri·fy·ing , petri·fied , petri·fied )
1.
[ vn ] to make sb feel extremely frightened
SYN terrify
2.
[ v , vn ] to change or to make sth change into a substance like stone
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WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English : from French pétrifier , from medieval Latin petrificare , from Latin petra rock, from Greek .