Is there a word to describe the feeling of being transfixed out of horror?
Could not find an existing duplicate question, but this may be due to not know how to describe the word/feeling!
For example, given the following sentence:
Francis could not look away from the blood-drenched vampire. The blood-soaked clothes and shimmering fangs were X
And X is specifically drawing upon the fact that the appearance is horrifying, horrible, scary, etc.
Similar words that come to mind but are generic in their motivation: hypnotic, transfixing
First question on this Stack so apologies if poor formatting!
single-word-requests emotions
New contributor
add a comment |
Could not find an existing duplicate question, but this may be due to not know how to describe the word/feeling!
For example, given the following sentence:
Francis could not look away from the blood-drenched vampire. The blood-soaked clothes and shimmering fangs were X
And X is specifically drawing upon the fact that the appearance is horrifying, horrible, scary, etc.
Similar words that come to mind but are generic in their motivation: hypnotic, transfixing
First question on this Stack so apologies if poor formatting!
single-word-requests emotions
New contributor
add a comment |
Could not find an existing duplicate question, but this may be due to not know how to describe the word/feeling!
For example, given the following sentence:
Francis could not look away from the blood-drenched vampire. The blood-soaked clothes and shimmering fangs were X
And X is specifically drawing upon the fact that the appearance is horrifying, horrible, scary, etc.
Similar words that come to mind but are generic in their motivation: hypnotic, transfixing
First question on this Stack so apologies if poor formatting!
single-word-requests emotions
New contributor
Could not find an existing duplicate question, but this may be due to not know how to describe the word/feeling!
For example, given the following sentence:
Francis could not look away from the blood-drenched vampire. The blood-soaked clothes and shimmering fangs were X
And X is specifically drawing upon the fact that the appearance is horrifying, horrible, scary, etc.
Similar words that come to mind but are generic in their motivation: hypnotic, transfixing
First question on this Stack so apologies if poor formatting!
single-word-requests emotions
single-word-requests emotions
New contributor
New contributor
edited 1 hour ago
JJJ
6,21392646
6,21392646
New contributor
asked 2 hours ago
Reputable MisnomerReputable Misnomer
1133
1133
New contributor
New contributor
add a comment |
add a comment |
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
According to the Oxford online dictionary the verb to petrify means by its primary definition
Change (organic matter) into a stony substance by encrusting or replacing it with a calcareous, siliceous, or other mineral deposit.
However it has the secondary, originally metaphorical, definition of
Make (someone) so frightened that they are unable to move
The the present paticiple of to petrify is petrifying which would fit well into your sentence.
Ah, if only there was a mix between @Ibf's 'stunned' suggestion and this! I think I am going to mark your answer as correct as it did answer my question. Thank you so much!
– Reputable Misnomer
38 mins ago
add a comment |
As in:
The blood-soaked clothes and shimmering fangs stunned him.
stunned TFD
- to shock or overwhelm
- to surprise or astound
add a comment |
Your Answer
StackExchange.ready(function() {
var channelOptions = {
tags: "".split(" "),
id: "97"
};
initTagRenderer("".split(" "), "".split(" "), channelOptions);
StackExchange.using("externalEditor", function() {
// Have to fire editor after snippets, if snippets enabled
if (StackExchange.settings.snippets.snippetsEnabled) {
StackExchange.using("snippets", function() {
createEditor();
});
}
else {
createEditor();
}
});
function createEditor() {
StackExchange.prepareEditor({
heartbeatType: 'answer',
autoActivateHeartbeat: false,
convertImagesToLinks: false,
noModals: true,
showLowRepImageUploadWarning: true,
reputationToPostImages: null,
bindNavPrevention: true,
postfix: "",
imageUploader: {
brandingHtml: "Powered by u003ca class="icon-imgur-white" href="https://imgur.com/"u003eu003c/au003e",
contentPolicyHtml: "User contributions licensed under u003ca href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/"u003ecc by-sa 3.0 with attribution requiredu003c/au003e u003ca href="https://stackoverflow.com/legal/content-policy"u003e(content policy)u003c/au003e",
allowUrls: true
},
noCode: true, onDemand: true,
discardSelector: ".discard-answer"
,immediatelyShowMarkdownHelp:true
});
}
});
Reputable Misnomer is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
StackExchange.ready(
function () {
StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fenglish.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f491150%2fis-there-a-word-to-describe-the-feeling-of-being-transfixed-out-of-horror%23new-answer', 'question_page');
}
);
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
According to the Oxford online dictionary the verb to petrify means by its primary definition
Change (organic matter) into a stony substance by encrusting or replacing it with a calcareous, siliceous, or other mineral deposit.
However it has the secondary, originally metaphorical, definition of
Make (someone) so frightened that they are unable to move
The the present paticiple of to petrify is petrifying which would fit well into your sentence.
Ah, if only there was a mix between @Ibf's 'stunned' suggestion and this! I think I am going to mark your answer as correct as it did answer my question. Thank you so much!
– Reputable Misnomer
38 mins ago
add a comment |
According to the Oxford online dictionary the verb to petrify means by its primary definition
Change (organic matter) into a stony substance by encrusting or replacing it with a calcareous, siliceous, or other mineral deposit.
However it has the secondary, originally metaphorical, definition of
Make (someone) so frightened that they are unable to move
The the present paticiple of to petrify is petrifying which would fit well into your sentence.
Ah, if only there was a mix between @Ibf's 'stunned' suggestion and this! I think I am going to mark your answer as correct as it did answer my question. Thank you so much!
– Reputable Misnomer
38 mins ago
add a comment |
According to the Oxford online dictionary the verb to petrify means by its primary definition
Change (organic matter) into a stony substance by encrusting or replacing it with a calcareous, siliceous, or other mineral deposit.
However it has the secondary, originally metaphorical, definition of
Make (someone) so frightened that they are unable to move
The the present paticiple of to petrify is petrifying which would fit well into your sentence.
According to the Oxford online dictionary the verb to petrify means by its primary definition
Change (organic matter) into a stony substance by encrusting or replacing it with a calcareous, siliceous, or other mineral deposit.
However it has the secondary, originally metaphorical, definition of
Make (someone) so frightened that they are unable to move
The the present paticiple of to petrify is petrifying which would fit well into your sentence.
answered 1 hour ago
BoldBenBoldBen
6,065818
6,065818
Ah, if only there was a mix between @Ibf's 'stunned' suggestion and this! I think I am going to mark your answer as correct as it did answer my question. Thank you so much!
– Reputable Misnomer
38 mins ago
add a comment |
Ah, if only there was a mix between @Ibf's 'stunned' suggestion and this! I think I am going to mark your answer as correct as it did answer my question. Thank you so much!
– Reputable Misnomer
38 mins ago
Ah, if only there was a mix between @Ibf's 'stunned' suggestion and this! I think I am going to mark your answer as correct as it did answer my question. Thank you so much!
– Reputable Misnomer
38 mins ago
Ah, if only there was a mix between @Ibf's 'stunned' suggestion and this! I think I am going to mark your answer as correct as it did answer my question. Thank you so much!
– Reputable Misnomer
38 mins ago
add a comment |
As in:
The blood-soaked clothes and shimmering fangs stunned him.
stunned TFD
- to shock or overwhelm
- to surprise or astound
add a comment |
As in:
The blood-soaked clothes and shimmering fangs stunned him.
stunned TFD
- to shock or overwhelm
- to surprise or astound
add a comment |
As in:
The blood-soaked clothes and shimmering fangs stunned him.
stunned TFD
- to shock or overwhelm
- to surprise or astound
As in:
The blood-soaked clothes and shimmering fangs stunned him.
stunned TFD
- to shock or overwhelm
- to surprise or astound
answered 1 hour ago
lbflbf
22.2k22575
22.2k22575
add a comment |
add a comment |
Reputable Misnomer is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Reputable Misnomer is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Reputable Misnomer is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Reputable Misnomer is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Thanks for contributing an answer to English Language & Usage Stack Exchange!
- Please be sure to answer the question. Provide details and share your research!
But avoid …
- Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers.
- Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience.
To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers.
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
StackExchange.ready(
function () {
StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fenglish.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f491150%2fis-there-a-word-to-describe-the-feeling-of-being-transfixed-out-of-horror%23new-answer', 'question_page');
}
);
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown