Dumbstricken

/ˈdʌmˌstrɪkən/ adjective

Definition

Struck or affected by dumbness; rendered unable to speak or shocked into silence.

Etymology

Compound formed from 'dumb' plus 'stricken' (past participle of 'strike'), following the pattern of 'awestricken' or 'thunderstruck,' meaning 'struck with dumbness.'

Kelly Says

This is a variant of 'dumbstruck' that's nearly identical in meaning but rarer—it shows English's love of creating synonyms through slight word variations, even when one version becomes standard.

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