Harry Potter·Full-Body Bind Curse

Petrificus Totalus

A curse that temporarily holds a person's body motionless.

SpellFictional SettingBooksFictional incantationBinding

Character / Caster: Hermione Granger

Continuity / Version: Harry Potter Book Continuity · Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone

A wooden training figure held motionless by binding magic — Original illustration inspired by the spell’s fictional effect
AI-generated illustration · Spelling Spells

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How to spell it

Exact spelling: Petrificus Totalus. Spaces and letter order are part of the entry.

The words behind the wonder

Meaning & use

Fictional Effect: Immobilizes the body while leaving the person's eyes able to move.

Hermione uses the curse on Neville when he tries to stop the trio leaving their common room. The official account describes temporary paralysis; this is not a transformation of the target into stone.

Where the word comes from

Language & etymology

Unconfirmed etymology

Etymology has not been independently established for this entry.

Confirmed means a source identifies the origin. Suggested means an interpretation is plausible but is marked as such. Unconfirmed means an origin has not been established here.

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