petrification (petrifikashon)

[F. pétri fication = Sp. petrific a cion = Pg. petrific ação = It. petrific azione, It was observed long ago by Epictetus that there were some persons that would deny the plainest and most evident truths; and this state and condition he terms a pet rif i cation or mortification of the mind. Hallywell , Melampronæa, p. 1. ( Latham .) petrify (pet'ri-fi), v.; pret. and pp. petrified , ppr. petrifying . [F. pétrifier = Sp. Pg. petri ficar It. petrific are , petrific are , petra ( πέτρα ), rock (see pier ), + facere , make. Cf. petrific .] I. trans. 1. To convert into stone or a stony substance; change into stone.-2. To make hard as stone; render hard or callous: as, to petrify the heart. Full in the midst of Euclid dip at once, And petrify a genius to a dunce. Pope, Dunciad, iv. 264. IMG:content-2801.png:[blocks in formation] Like Niobe we marble grow, And petrify with grief. Dryden, Threnodia August a lis, 1. 8.