Dumfound: meaning, definitions and examples
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dumfound
[ ˈdʌmfaʊnd ]
reaction, surprise
To dumfound someone means to shock or astonish them to the point where they are speechless. This often occurs when a person receives unexpected news or encounters a situation that is overwhelming. The stunning nature of the event or information leaves them unable to respond or react immediately. This word often conveys a sense of disbelief or being unable to comprehend what has just occurred.
Synonyms
astonish, bewilder, confound, daze, stun
Examples of usage
- The magician's trick dumfounded the entire audience.
- She was dumfounded when she won the lottery.
- His sudden proposal dumfounded her.
- The results of the experiment dumfounded the scientists.
Translations
Translations of the word "dumfound" in other languages:
🇵🇹 atordoar
🇮🇳 हैरान करना
🇩🇪 verblüffen
🇮🇩 membingungkan
🇺🇦 збентежити
🇵🇱 oszołomić
🇯🇵 呆然とさせる
🇫🇷 stupéfier
🇪🇸 asombrar
🇹🇷 şaşırtmak
🇰🇷 어리둥절하게 하다
🇸🇦 يذهل
🇨🇿 ohromit
🇸🇰 ohromiť
🇨🇳 使惊愕
🇸🇮 osupniti
🇮🇸 móðga
🇰🇿 таңғалдыру
🇬🇪 ანამბივი
🇦🇿 heyrətə salmaq
🇲🇽 asombrar
Etymology
The word 'dumfound' has its origins in the early 16th century, first appearing in the English language around 1545. It is a combination of the prefix 'dum-', derived from the Old Norse 'dumr', meaning 'deaf' or 'mute', and 'found', from Middle English 'founden', meaning 'to cause to be'. Together, they fuse to illustrate the state of being rendered speechless or unable to articulate one's thoughts due to shock or amazement. The term reflects the tactile and immediate nature of surprise, and while its usage has diminished over the centuries, it still conveys a strong emotional response in contemporary English. The evolution of the word can be traced through various literary works and its presence in modern dictionaries, signifying its enduring relevance in the English lexicon.