Meanings
adjectivepetrific (comparative more petrific, superlative most petrific)
comparative more petrific · superlative most petrific
- archaicPetrifying, turning into stone; petrifactive.First known use 17th c.
Death with his mace petrific, cold and dry.
1667, John Milton, “Book IX”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC1 more example
“Sir!” cried Mr. Delvile, with a look meant to be nothing less than petrific.
1782, Frances Burney, Cecilia, III.vi.2
Synonyms & antonyms
Also see
Origin
- Latinpetrificus
- Englishpetrific
From post-classical Latin petrificus (13th c.), from petra (“rock, stone”).
More words from Latin
Full word history & related roots →Rhymes & wordplay
Rhymes with petrific
specificpacificscientificterrificprolifichorrificinterspecifichieroglyphichonorificcalorifictranspacificunspecificconspecificsoporificpseudoscientificsalvificcolorificcalcificacidificalgificallospecificanaglyphicanticalcificantiprolific
All rhymes →Cite this entry
APA
petrific. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/petrific
MLA
“petrific.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/petrific. Accessed November 3, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “petrific,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/petrific.
Source: petrific on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.