To turn to stone or petrify; to stun or paralyze with a horrifying gaze or appearance, as the Gorgon in mythology.
From 'Gorgon' + '-ise' (British spelling of '-ize,' meaning 'to make' or 'to cause to become'). The mythological sense is literal or figurative.
In Greek mythology, Medusa could 'gorgonise' people literally, but writers use the word metaphorically to describe how beauty or horror can paralyze you emotionally!
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