ossify

English dictionary entry

Meanings

verb

To transform (or cause to transform) from a softer animal substance into bone; particularly the processes of growth in humans and animals.
To become (or cause to become) inflexible and rigid in habits or opinions.
To grow (or cause to grow) formulaic and permanent.
To calcify.

/ˈɒs.ɪ.faɪ/ /ˈɑ.sə.faɪ/ en-us-ossify.ogg

ossify ossifies ossifying ossified

Back-formation from ossification, or modeled on French ossifier and formed from Latin os, ossis (“bone”) + -ify.

harden

deossify

ossification ossifier calcify

coossify nonossifying reossify

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