transfix

Where does the word "transfix" come from? It comes from Latin figere, passing through Latin before entering English (1500s).

Transfix’s story begins in Latin: figere meant “to fix, to fasten.” To fix, to fasten, combined with trans- (through). Within Latin, it grew into transfigere by ancient. To pierce through, from trans- and figere. It reached English by 1500s as transfix. Settled as the English word for piercing something through, or making someone motionless with amazement. Today, transfix means to make someone motionless with amazement or fear, or to pierce something through.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient figere "to fix, to fasten", to fix, to fasten, combined with trans- (through).
2. Stage 2 · Latin · ancient transfigere "to pierce through", to pierce through, from trans- and figere.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1500s transfix "to pierce something through, or to make someone motionless with amazement", settled as the English word for piercing something through, or making someone motionless with amazement.