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Ossify
//ˈɑ.sə.faɪ// verb
Definitions
Verb
- 1 To transform (or cause to transform) from a softer animal substance into bone; particularly the processes of growth in humans and animals. ambitransitive
"[…], nor do all bones of the same skeleton ossify during the samе period of time."
- 2 become bony wordnet
- 3 To become (or cause to become) inflexible and rigid in habits or opinions. ambitransitive, animate
"Before long, the entire organization ossifies."
- 4 cause to become hard and bony wordnet
- 5 To grow (or cause to grow) formulaic and permanent. ambitransitive, inanimate
"This accidental repartition gets repeated, develops advantages of its own, and gradually ossifies into a systematic division of labour."
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- 6 make rigid and set into a conventional pattern wordnet
- 7 To calcify. rare
"The cartilages become brittle, and in many instances are ossified; the ligaments are rendered harder, but are less capable of resisting extension."
Etymology
Back-formation from ossification, or modeled on French ossifier and formed from Latin os, ossis (“bone”) + -ify.
See also for "ossify"
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