transfix
English
Etymology 1
From Middle French transfixer, from Old French transfixer, from Latin transfigō (“to pierce through”), from trans- (“through”) + figō (“to pierce”).
Pronunciation
Audio (US) (file)
Verb
transfix (third-person singular simple present transfixes, present participle transfixing, simple past and past participle transfixed)
- (transitive) To render motionless, by arousing terror, amazement or awe.
- 1963, Margery Allingham, “Foreword”, in The China Governess: A Mystery, London: Chatto & Windus, →OCLC:
- He stood transfixed before the unaccustomed view of London at night time, a vast panorama which reminded him […] of some wood engravings far off and magical, in a printshop in his childhood. They dated from the previous century and were coarsely printed on tinted paper, with tinsel outlining the design.
- 1973, Norman Mailer, Marilyn: A Biography, page 45:
- But we may as well accept her story as true, for it is likely she would have been transfixed by the narcissism of the weight lifters.
- (transitive) To pierce with a sharp pointed weapon.
- 1817 December, Percy Bysshe Shelley, “The Revolt of Islam. […]”, in [Mary] Shelley, editor, The Poetical Works of Percy Bysshe Shelley. […], volume I, London: Edward Moxon […], published 1839, →OCLC, page 237:
- The spear transfixed my arm that was uplifted
In swift expostulation, and the blood
Gushed round its point: I smiled, […]
- 1919, W[illiam] Somerset Maugham, “chapter 52”, in The Moon and Sixpence, [New York, N.Y.]: Grosset & Dunlap Publishers […], →OCLC:
- There was a little stream that ran not far away, in which he bathed, and down this on occasion would come a shoal of fish. Then the natives would assemble with spears, and with much shouting would transfix the great startled things as they hurried down to the sea.
- (transitive) To fix or impale.
Related terms
- transfixation
- transfixion
- transfixture
Translations
to render motionless, by arousing terror, amazement or awe
|
to pierce with a sharp pointed weapon
Noun
transfix (plural transfixes)
- (linguistics) A discontinuous affix, which occurs at more than one position in a word, typical of Semitic languages.
Translations
a discontinuous affix, which occurs at more than one position in a word, typical of Semitic languages
|
This article is issued from Wiktionary. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.