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ossify

   Also found in: Medical, Legal, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia 0.01 sec.
os·si·fy  (s-f)
v. os·si·fied, os·si·fy·ing, os·si·fies
v.intr.
1. To change into bone; become bony.
2. To become set in a rigidly conventional pattern: "The central ideas of liberalism have ossified" (Jeffrey Hart).
v.tr.
1. To convert (a membrane or cartilage, for example) into bone.
2. To mold into a rigidly conventional pattern.

[Latin os, oss-, bone; see ost- in Indo-European roots + -fy.]

os·sific (-sfk) adj.

ossify [ˈɒsɪˌfaɪ]
vb -fies, -fying, -fied
1. (Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Anatomy) to convert or be converted into bone
2. (intr) (of habits, attitudes, etc.) to become inflexible
[from French ossifier, from Latin os bone + facere to make]
ossifier  n
ThesaurusLegend:  Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
Verb1.ossify - become bony; "The tissue ossified"
change state, turn - undergo a transformation or a change of position or action; "We turned from Socialism to Capitalism"; "The people turned against the President when he stole the election"
2.ossify - make rigid and set into a conventional pattern; "rigidify the training schedule"; "ossified teaching methods"; "slogans petrify our thinking"
stiffen - make stiff or stiffer; "Stiffen the cream by adding gelatine"
3.ossify - cause to become hard and bony; "The disease ossified the tissue"
alter, change, modify - cause to change; make different; cause a transformation; "The advent of the automobile may have altered the growth pattern of the city"; "The discussion has changed my thinking about the issue"
Translations
ossify [ˈɒsɪfaɪ]
A. VI (lit) → osificarse (fig) → anquilosarse
B. VTosificar
ossify
vt (lit)verknöchern lassen; (fig)erstarren lassen; mindunbeweglich machen; to be ossified (lit)verknöchert sein; (fig)erstarrt sein; (mind)unbeweglich sein; to become ossified (fig)erstarren; (mind)unbeweglich werden
vi (lit)verknöchern; (fig)erstarren; (mind) → unbeweglich werden
ossify [ˈɒsɪˌfaɪ] viossificarsi


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All fixed, fast-frozen relations, with their train of ancient and venerable prejudices and opinions,are swept away, all new-formed ones become antiquated before they can ossify.
 
 
 
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