petrify

/ˈpɛ.tɹəˌfaɪ/verb
Middle School
1

To turn to stone: to harden organic matter by permeating with water and depositing dissolved minerals.

2

To produce rigidity akin to stone.

3

To immobilize with fright.

4

To become stone, or of a stony hardness, as organic matter by calcareous deposits.

5

To become stony, callous, or obdurate.

6

To make callous or obdurate; to stupefy; to paralyze; to transform; as by petrification.

Sound Patterns & Rhymes

Rhymes

Words that share the same ending sound pattern

Alliteration

Words starting with the same consonant sound — used in poetry and prose to create rhythm, emphasis, and memorable phrasing (e.g. “Peter Piper picked”)

Assonance

Words sharing similar vowel sounds regardless of starting letter — creates internal melody in writing

Consonance

Words sharing similar consonant sound patterns — adds texture and cohesion to writing