Transfix
noun, verb ·2 syllables ·Moderate ·College level
Definitions
- 1 A discontinuous affix, typical of Afro-Asiatic languages, which occurs at more than one position in a word, i.e. a combination of prefixes, infixes and/or suffixes.
"The Arabic word مكتوب (maktūb, “written”) is built from the root [script needed] (k–t–b, “writing”) and the transfix [script needed] (ma––ū–, “passive participle”)."
- 1 To render motionless, by arousing terror, amazement or awe. transitive
"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."
- 2 pierce with a sharp stake or point wordnet
- 3 To pierce with a sharp pointed weapon. transitive
"The spear transfixed my arm that was uplifted In swift expostulation, and the blood Gushed round its point: I smiled, […]"
- 4 to render motionless, as with a fixed stare or by arousing terror or awe wordnet
- 5 To fix or impale. transitive
Example
More examples"Without his spear, he is unable to transfix the kangaroos and wallabies on which he so much depends for his daily food, and, robbed of his boomerangs and nullah-nullahs, the wild duck can pass him scatheless, and the cockatoo can scream defiance from the lofty trees."
Etymology
From Middle French transfixer, from Old French transfixer, from Latin transfigō (“to pierce through”), from trans- (“through”) + figō (“to pierce”).
From trans- + -fix.
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Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.