Word Study
ossify
CIDE DICTIONARY
ossify, v. t. [L. os, ossis, bone + -fy: cf. F. ossifier. See Osseous.].
- To form into bone; to change from a soft animal substance into bone, as by the deposition of lime salts. [1913 Webster]
- To harden; as, to ossify the heart. Ruskin. [1913 Webster]
ossify, v. i.
To become bone; to change from a soft tissue to a hard bony tissue. [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
ossify, v.tr. & intr. (-ies, -ied)
1 turn into bone; harden.
2 make or become rigid, callous, or unprogressive.
1 turn into bone; harden.
2 make or become rigid, callous, or unprogressive.
Derivative
ossific adj. ossification n.
Etymology
F ossifier f. L os ossis bone
THESAURUS
ossify
anneal, brutalize, calcify, callous, case harden, cornify, firm, fossilize, harden, indurate, inure, lapidify, lithify, petrify, steel, temper, toughen, vitrifyROGET THESAURUS
ossify
Hardness
VB render hard, harden, stiffen, indurate, petrify, temper, ossify, vitrify, accrust.For further exploring for "ossify" in Webster Dictionary Online