French Conversation · Level 65
60 words
French word
fossiliser
Pronunciation
IPA/fosilize/
Meaning
- verbossify
Example
Il ne faut pas fossiliser les règles; elles doivent évoluer.
The rules must not ossify; they must evolve.
More examples
Le jargon professionnel tend à se fossiliser.
Professional jargon tends to become fossilized.
Core concept
A living practice hardens into a rigid fossil that resists change.
Common phrases
fossiliser les règles
fossilize the rules
fossiliser des pratiques
fossilize practices
se fossiliser
become fossilized
Similar words
fixer: To establish a position, schedule, or condition and keep it unchanged.
figer: To bring movement or change to an abrupt halt and make it fixed.
stabiliser: To limit fluctuations and make a situation stable.
verrouiller: To secure a system or condition against changes from outside.
Definition in French
Empêcher quelque chose de changer en le fixant définitivement dans une forme ou une pratique.
Word origin
The verb fossiliser was formed from French fossile by adding -iser, and fossile continues the Latin adjective fossilis.
Usage tips
- The pronominal form se fossiliser describes something becoming fixed or rigid, as in des institutions qui se fossilisent.