Dumbstruck Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations
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dumbstruck
[หdสmstrสk ]
Definition
state of shock
Dumbstruck describes a state of being unable to speak due to surprise or astonishment. When someone is dumbstruck, they are often left in a moment of stunned silence, unable to respond or react.
Synonyms
astonished, bewildered, flabbergasted, speechless.
Examples of usage
- She was dumbstruck by the unexpected news.
- He stood there, dumbstruck, unable to find the words.
- The audience was dumbstruck by the magician's final trick.
Translations
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Interesting Facts
Psychology
- Being dumbstruck can trigger a physiological response, including increased heart rate and heightened senses due to adrenaline during surprising moments.
- This feeling is often linked to situations that challenge our understanding or expectations, creating cognitive dissonance.
- People experiencing shock or disbelief may find it difficult to react or communicate, a reflection of brain overload in processing unexpected events.
Pop Culture
- In movies, characters often become dumbstruck during pivotal moments, such as discovering a secret or receiving shocking news, highlighting the dramatic impact of surprise.
- Famous quotes about surprise, like 'I was left dumbstruck,' show how the term has permeated everyday language, indicating its cultural relevance.
- Music and literature frequently explore themes of shock, using 'dumbstruck' to convey deep emotional turmoil or intense revelations.
Literature
- Classic literature often uses 'dumbstruck' to describe characters' reactions to unexpected plot twists, creating tension and emphasizing emotional depth.
- Authors like Shakespeare utilized the term in various ways to portray profound surprise or disbelief among characters.
- In contemporary novels, the term appears frequently to evoke empathy from readers by capturing moments of silence in reaction to intense events.
Origin of 'dumbstruck'
Main points about word origin
- The term 'dumbstruck' originated in the early 17th century, combining 'dumb,' meaning unable to speak, and 'struck,' meaning hit or affected.
- Its roots can be traced back to the Old English word 'dumb,' which originally meant 'mute' before it took on other meanings.
- Initially, 'dumbstruck' described a person who was so overwhelmed they could not express themselves verbally, emphasizing the emotional response.
The word 'dumbstruck' is derived from the combination of two English words: 'dumb', which originally meant unable to speak, and 'struck', past participle of 'strike', meaning to hit or affect. The usage of 'dumb' in this context has evolved over time; it stems from the Old English 'dumb', meaning mute or silent, while 'struck' relates to being impacted by something suddenly. The term began to appear in English literature in the early 18th century, capturing the essence of being so overwhelmed or surprised that one is rendered temporarily incapable of speech. The vivid imagery of being 'struck' by an emotion makes the word particularly expressive. Today, it is commonly used in various contexts to describe moments of shock or disbelief.