Solidified

How to spell solidified

10 letters · 4 syllables

How to pronounce solidified

Say the part in capitals loudest.

What does solidified mean?

1. verbBecame hard or firm, changing from a liquid or soft state into a solid one.
2. verbMade something such as a plan, reputation, or relationship stronger and more definite.

Solidified in a sentence

• The molten wax cooled and solidified in the mould overnight.

• The new contract solidified our partnership with the supplier.

• The gravy solidified in the fridge into a thick layer.

• Her steady results solidified her standing within the team.

Where does solidified come from?

Language of origin: Latin

This word traces back to the Latin adjective solidus, which meant 'firm', 'dense', or 'whole', the same root that gives us 'solid' and even the old Roman gold coin called the solidus. From solidus, Latin formed the verb solidare, 'to make firm', and that idea passed into English through French. The verb 'solidify' was assembled in English in the seventeenth century by joining 'solid' to the productive ending '-ify', meaning 'to make' or 'to cause to become', and 'solidified' is simply its past tense with '-ed'. The spelling trap sits at the join: the silent letter pattern of '-ify' becomes '-ified', where the 'y' shifts to 'i' before the ending. The same -ify to -ified change shows up in clarified, classified, and magnified, so once the rule clicks for one word it covers them all.

How the word is built

• solid (Latin solidus: firm, whole)
• -ify (to make)
• -ed (past tense)