Emily Dickinson Lexicon

PET'RI-FY, v.t. [L. petra, Gr. πετρος, a stone or rock, and facio, to make.]

1. To convert to stone or stony substance; as an animal or vegetable substance. North of Quito, there is a river that petrifies any sort of wood or leaves. – Kirwan.
2. To make callous or obdurate; as, to petrify the heart. And petrify a genius to a dunce. – Pope.
3. To fix; as, to petrify one with astonishment.