Where does “petrifact” come from?

petrifact (English) comes from English artefact, from Italian artefatto, from Vulgar Latin *artefactum.

petrifact (English): An object made of stone, especially one formed...

Definitions

  1. An object made of stone, especially one formed...

Ancestry of “petrifact”, step by step

petrifact traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English artefact

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishartefactAlternative spelling of artifact
2Italianartefattoartificial; adulterated; past participle of...
3Vulgar Latin*artefactum—

via Latin petra

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Latinpetrastone, rock
2Ancient Greekπέτραrock formation: cliff, ledge, cave, ridge; stone
Every word from Vulgar Latin *artefactum →Every word from Italian artefatto →Every word from English artefact →