#gorgonize

Verb (used with object)

[gawr-guh-nahyz ]

1. to affect as a Gorgon; hypnotize; petrify:
    She felt trapped and totally helpless in his gorgonizing stare.

Origin:
Gorgonize is ultimately derived, via Latin, from Ancient Greek Gorgṓ, which comes from the adjective gorgós “dreadful” and is the original Greek name for each of the Gorgons, the triumvirate of mythic sisters with snakes for hair and whose appearance was so frightful that anyone who looked at them directly would turn to stone. The Gorgons were named Euryale, Medusa, and Stheno, and Medusa is the most famous of the three because of her mortality, which allowed for Perseus to behead her by using her reflection in his shield to guide his sword.

“Athena smiled, then turned to Po. “Not a word out of you, Poseidon, or I’ll freeze you so fast you won’t know what hit you. Now watch while I gorgonize your little girlfriend.”
- KATE MCMULLAN, SAY CHEESE, MEDUSA, 2002