Transitive sense 'harden into ice, congeal as if by frost' first recorded late 14c. Of weather, 'be cold enough to freeze,' 13c. (15) Cases at two undisclosed hospitals in Scotland exposed possible flaws in venting systems used with the machines, which could disperse helium gas cold enough to freeze patients to death.Alteration of freese, friese, from Middle English fresen, from Old English freosan (intransitive) 'turn to ice' (class II strong verb past tense freas, past participle froren), from Proto-Germanic *freusan 'to freeze' (source also of Dutch vriezen, Old Norse frjosa, Old High German friosan, German frieren 'to freeze,' and related to Gothic frius 'frost'), from Proto-Germanic *freus-, equivalent to PIE root *preus- 'to freeze,' also 'to burn' (source also of Sanskrit prusva, Latin pruina 'hoarfrost,' Welsh rhew 'frost,' Sanskrit prustah 'burnt,' Albanian prus 'burning coals,' Latin pruna 'a live coal'). (14) The chancellor said the first step could be to freeze up to Ôö¼├║1 billion of debts later this week owed by those countries hardest hit by the Boxing Day disaster. (13) Irish salmon fishermen are calling on the Minister to at least freeze quotas at the 2002 level whilst the current stock position is evaluated. (12) In the 2002 pay round, the company proposed a freeze on wages and cuts to conditions such as shift allowances and overtime rates. (10) In severe winters the pub can be cut off by drifting snow for days at a time and the beer has been known to freeze in the pipes! (11) The water may even freeze, producing frost on the inside surface of the window. (9) The railroad won an injunction to freeze Dringer's assets, halting his lucrative business. (8) She was right, he could very well freeze to death without a blanket tonight. (7) The meeting also approved a massive rise in council tax of more than 18.5 per cent - as well as a freeze on grants for arts and voluntary groups in the city. (6) Let's get you inside before you freeze to death.

(5) A freeze set in on the 20th and 21st, and this made the higher ground particularly slippery and dangerous. (4) Magalios said news of the tuition freeze was a surprise, considering the tone of the meeting she had with Hedderson March 11. (3) It would freeze assets and impose a travel ban on anyone identified as a suspect by the commission. (2) While the Government has a freeze on public sector recruitment, it says it is willing to recruit frontline health staff depending on the resources available.

(1) Outside, without clothing and in my condition, I would freeze to death before I could get a mile.

Latin word for freezing to death