fossilize

• POS: Verb (usu participle)
• HYPHEN: fos=sil=ize

CIDE DICTIONARY

fossilize, v. t. [Cf. F. fossiliser.].

•  To convert into a fossil; to petrify; as, to fossilize bones or wood.  [1913 Webster]
•  To cause to become antiquated, rigid, or fixed, as by fossilization; to mummify; to deaden.  [1913 Webster]

  "Ten layers of birthdays on a woman's head
  Are apt to fossilize her girlish mirth."  [1913 Webster]

fossilize, v. i. 

•  To become fossil.  [1913 Webster]
•  To become antiquated, rigid, or fixed, beyond the influence of change or progress.  [1913 Webster]

THESAURUS

fossilize

age, anneal, antiquate, become extinct, become obsolete, calcify, callous, case harden, cornify, date, fade, firm, fust, grow old, harden, indurate, lapidify, lithify, lose currency, molder, obsolesce, ossify, outdate, perish, petrify, rust, steel, superannuate, temper, toughen, vitrify

ROGET THESAURUS

fossilize

Inorganization

VB turn to dust, mineralize, fossilize.