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ossein
osseous
Osset
Ossetic
ossia
Ossian
ossicle
ossification
ossify
Ossining
osso buco
ossuary
ost-
osteal
osteitis
Ostend
ostensible
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ossify

os·si·fy [ óssə f ] (past and past participle os·si·fied, present participle os·si·fy·ing, 3rd person present singular os·si·fies)


transitive and intransitive verb 
Definition:
 
1. harden into bone: to change soft tissue such as cartilage into bone as a result of impregnation with calcium salts, or be changed in this way

2. become inflexible: to become rigidly set in a conventional pattern of behavior, beliefs, and attitudes, or make somebody become so

[Early 18th century. < French ossifier "turn into bone" < Latin os "bone"]
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