How Do You Spell PETRIFIED?

Pronunciation: [pˈɛtɹɪfˌa͡ɪd] (IPA)

The spelling of the word "petrified" may seem tricky, but it is actually quite easy once you understand the pronunciation. The word is pronounced /ˈpetrəfaɪd/, with emphasis on the second syllable. The use of the letter "i" in the middle and end of the word can be confusing, but it follows the general rule of using "i" before "e" except after "c". The word means to be paralyzed with fear, and is often used to describe a feeling of extreme anxiety or terror.

PETRIFIED Meaning and Definition

1. Petrified, as an adjective, refers to a state of extreme fear, astonishment, or paralysis often resulting from a perceived threat or shocking event. It describes the state of being so overwhelmed or terrified that one becomes immobile or frozen in place, as if turned to stone. This term is derived from the Greek word "petro-" meaning "stone" or "rock."

   In its original context, petrification was experienced as a physical transformation in which an organic material, such as wood or bone, becomes mineralized and turns into stone. Over time, however, petrified has come to symbolize the emotional or psychological reaction to an overwhelming or terrifying experience.

   When someone is petrified, their body and senses seize up, rendering them unable to move, speak, or act. This can be a natural instinctive response to perceived danger, triggering a state of fight, flight, or even freeze. It can also manifest as a result of shock or disbelief in the face of something distressing or horrifying.

   Furthermore, petrified can be used metaphorically to describe a heightened level of anxiety or dread. It conveys the intense and immobilizing fear that renders an individual motionless or unable to think rationally.

   Overall, petrified encompasses the feelings of extreme terror, shock, and paralysis that can arise from a threatening or shocking situation, representing a state of being frozen in fear or astonishment.

2. Converted into stone; amazed; astounded.

   Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.

Top Common Misspellings for PETRIFIED *

• petrofied 35.2941176%
• petrafied 29.4117647%
• petrefied 11.7647058%
• peteified 11.7647058%
• petriffied 11.7647058%

* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.

Other Common Misspellings for PETRIFIED

• ceterified
• notrified
• terified
• certrified
• vetrified
• petrifide
• pertrified
• petrifyed
• petrfied
• cetrified
• pertified
• petrifiedd
• petrifed
• petrifie
• Unpetrifyed
• Petrifick
• Petrifica
• Petrisige
• metriyfied
• petrifaid

Etymology of PETRIFIED

The word "petrified" comes from the Latin word "petrificare", which is composed of two components: "petra", meaning "rock", and "facere", meaning "to make". Therefore, the literal meaning of "petrificare" is "to make into stone". This word eventually evolved into "petrified" in the English language, retaining its original sense of "turned to stone" and also gaining the figurative meaning of being extremely frightened or paralyzed with fear.

Similar spelling words for PETRIFIED

• petrify,
• putrified,
• petrifaction,
• petrifying,
• Petroff.

Conjugate verb Petrified

CONDITIONAL

I would petrify

we would petrify

you would petrify

he/she/it would petrify

they would petrify

FUTURE

I will petrify

we will petrify

you will petrify

he/she/it will petrify

they will petrify

FUTURE PERFECT

I will have petrified

we will have petrified

you will have petrified

he/she/it will have petrified

they will have petrified

PAST

I petrified

we petrified

you petrified

he/she/it petrified

they petrified

PAST PERFECT

I had petrified

we had petrified

you had petrified

he/she/it had petrified

they had petrified

PRESENT

I petrify

we petrify

you petrify

he/she/it petrifies

they petrify

PRESENT PERFECT

I have petrified

we have petrified

you have petrified

he/she/it has petrified

they have petrified

I am petrifying

we are petrifying

you are petrifying

he/she/it is petrifying

they are petrifying

I was petrifying

we were petrifying

you were petrifying

he/she/it was petrifying

they were petrifying

I will be petrifying

we will be petrifying

you will be petrifying

he/she/it will be petrifying

they will be petrifying

I have been petrifying

we have been petrifying

you have been petrifying

he/she/it has been petrifying

they have been petrifying

I had been petrifying

we had been petrifying

you had been petrifying

he/she/it had been petrifying

they had been petrifying

I will have been petrifying

we will have been petrifying

you will have been petrifying

he/she/it will have been petrifying

they will have been petrifying

I would have petrified

we would have petrified

you would have petrified

he/she/it would have petrified

they would have petrified

I would be petrifying

we would be petrifying

you would be petrifying

he/she/it would be petrifying

they would be petrifying

I would have been petrifying

we would have been petrifying

you would have been petrifying

he/she/it would have been petrifying

they would have been petrifying