Meaning

(transitive) To render motionless, by arousing terror, amazement or awe..

Definitions by Sense

1. (transitive) To render motionless, by arousing terror, amazement or awe.
2. (transitive) To pierce with a sharp pointed weapon.
3. (transitive) To fix or impale.
4. (linguistics) 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.

Example Sentences

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.

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.

The spear transfixed my arm that was uplifted In swift expostulation, and the blood Gushed round its point: I smiled, […]

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.

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”).

Word Forms

• transfixes
• transfixing
• transfixed

Synonyms for transfix

Related Words

When Should You Use Transfix?

Use transfix when its meaning, tone and grammar fit the full sentence. A synonym is not always a direct replacement.

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