petrifaction

• POS: Noun
• HYPHEN: pet=ri=fac=tion

CIDE DICTIONARY

petrifaction, n. [See Petrify.].

•  The process of petrifying, or changing into stone; conversion of any organic matter (animal or vegetable) into stone, or a substance of stony hardness.  [1913 Webster]
•  The state or condition of being petrified.  [1913 Webster]
•  That which is petrified; popularly, a body incrusted with stony matter; an incrustation.  [1913 Webster]
•  Fig.: Hardness; callousness; obduracy.  Cudworth.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

petrifaction, n.
1 the process of fossilization whereby organic matter is turned into a stony substance.
2 a petrified substance or mass.
3 a state of extreme fear or terror.

Etymology

PETRIFY after stupefaction

ROGET THESAURUS

petrifaction

Hardness

N hardness, rigidity, renitence, renitency, inflexibility, temper, callosity, durity, induration, petrifaction, lapidification, lapidescence, vitrification, ossification, crystallization, stone, pebble, flint, marble, rock, fossil, crag, crystal, quartz, granite, adamant, bone, cartilage, hardware, heart of oak, block, board, deal board, iron, steel, cast iron, decarbonized iron, wrought iron, nail, brick, concrete, cement, hard, rigid, stubborn, stiff, firm, starch, starched, stark, unbending, unlimber, unyielding, inflexible, tense, indurate, indurated, gritty, proof, adamant, adamantine, adamantean, concrete, stony, granitic, calculous, lithic, vitreous, horny, corneous, bony, osseous, ossific, cartilaginous, hard as a rock, stiff as buckram, stiff as a poker, stiff as starch, stiff as as board.