inlapidate

I1N1L1A1P3I1D2A1T1E1
/ɪnˈlæ.pɪ.deɪt/

verb

To convert into a stony substance; to petrify.

Scrabble 13

Meanings

verbinlapidate (third-person singular simple present inlapidates, present participle inlapidating, simple past and past participle inlapidated)

present singular third person inlapidates · participle present inlapidating · participle past inlapidated · past inlapidated

  1. archaictransitiveTo convert into a stony substance; to petrify.

    Were the devil to become a mortal, he would incline to be the comite to the galley-ſlaves at Marſeilles, whoſe hearts are inlapidated by cruelty.

    1778, Hamilton Walker, Mary Lady, Munster Village, volume II, London: Robson and Co., page 166
    2 more examples

    It is already found, that there are ſome Naturall Spring-waters, that will Inlapidate Wood; So that you ſhall ſee one peece of Wood, whereof the Part aboue the Water ſhall continue Wood; And the Part vnder the Water ſhall be turned into a kinde of Grauelly Stone.

    1627 (indicated as 1626), Francis [Bacon], “I. Century. [Experiments in Consort, touching Induration of Bodies.]”, in Sylua Syluarum: Or A Naturall Historie. In Ten Centuries. […], London: […] William Rawley […]; [p]rinted by J[ohn] H[aviland] for William Lee […], →OCLC, paragraph 85, page 27

    Nay, even the banditti of the highway, whoſe hearts are inlapidated by cruelty, and whoſe delight is in rapine, plunder, and bloodſhed, who ſhow their hatred of the world by defying its laws, and murderings^([sic]) its inhabitants, one day call their partners and confederates by this name, and the next betray them into the hands of juſtice.

    1776, Lubbock Thornley, “Essay on Friendship. Number IV”, in The Lady's Magazine; Or, Entertaining Companion for the Fair Sex, Appropriated Solely to Their Use and Amusement, volume 7, London: G. Robinson, page 359, column 2

Origin

  1. Latinlapis
  2. Englishinlapidate

From in- (“in”) + Latin lapis, lapidis (“stone”).

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

inlapidate. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/inlapidate

MLA

“inlapidate.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/inlapidate. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “inlapidate,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/inlapidate.

Source: inlapidate on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.