transfix

English

Etymology 1

From Middle French transfixer, from Old French transfixer, from Latin transfigō (“to pierce through”), from trans- (“through”) + figō (“to pierce”).

Pronunciation

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Verb

transfix (third-person singular simple present transfixes, present participle transfixing, simple past and past participle transfixed)

1. (transitive) To render motionless, by arousing terror, amazement or awe.
   • 1963, Margery Allingham, “Foreword”, in The China Governess: A Mystery, London: Chatto & Windus, →OCLC:

     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.

   • 1973, Norman Mailer, Marilyn: A Biography, page 45:

     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.

2. (transitive) To pierce with a sharp pointed weapon.
   • 1817 December, Percy Bysshe Shelley, “The Revolt of Islam. ”, in [Mary] Shelley, editor, The Poetical Works of Percy Bysshe Shelley. , volume I, London: Edward Moxon , published 1839, →OCLC, page 237:

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

   • 1919, W[illiam] Somerset Maugham, “chapter 52”, in The Moon and Sixpence, : Grosset & Dunlap Publishers , →OCLC:

     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.

3. (transitive) To fix or impale.

Related terms

• transfixation
• transfixion
• transfixture

Translations

Etymology 2

trans- +‎ -fix

Noun

transfix (plural transfixes)

1. (linguistics) A discontinuous affix, which occurs at more than one position in a word, typical of Semitic languages.

Translations