Definition of "petrific"

petrific

adjective
comparative more petrific, superlative most petrific
1. (now rare) Petrifying, turning into stone; petrifactive.
  Quotations
  Death with his mace petrific, cold and dry.
  1667, John Milton, “Book IX”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […]; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873,
  “Sir!” cried Mr. Delvile, with a look meant to be nothing less than petrific.
  1782, Frances Burney, Cecilia, III.vi.2