English

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Etymology 1

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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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  • Audio (US):(file)

Verb

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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.
  3. (transitive) To fix or impale.
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Translations
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Etymology 2

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From trans- +‎ -fix.

Noun

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transfix (plural transfixes)

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