Past tense and past participle of strike; hit forcefully or came into contact with something. Can also mean to be affected by something suddenly or to discover something unexpected.
From Old English strīcan meaning 'to stroke, rub, or go.' The word evolved through Middle English striken to develop multiple meanings including hitting, affecting emotionally, and discovering (as in 'struck gold').
The word 'struck' carries surprising emotional weight beyond physical impact - we speak of being 'struck' by beauty, ideas, or tragedy. This metaphorical extension shows how our language treats mental and emotional experiences as physical forces.
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