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 *

* 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

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

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

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