— fossilizable , adj. — fossilization , n.
/fos"euh luyz'/ , v. , fossilized, fossilizing .
v.t.
1. Geol. to convert into a fossil; replace organic with mineral substances in the remains of an organism.
2. to change as if into mere lifeless remains or traces of the past.
3. to make rigidly antiquated: Time has fossilized such methods.
v.i.
4. to become a fossil or fossillike: The plant fossilized in comparatively recent geologic time.
5. Ling. (of a linguistic form, feature, rule, etc.) to become permanently established in the interlanguage of a second-language learner in a form that is deviant from the target-language norm and that continues to appear in performance regardless of further exposure to the target language.
Also, esp. Brit., fossilise .
[ 1785-95; FOSSIL + -IZE ]