stupefy

[ stoo-puh-fahy, styoo- ]

/ ˈstu pəˌfaɪ, ˈstyu- /

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verb (used with object), stu·pe·fied, stu·pe·fy·ing.

to put into a state of little or no sensibility; benumb the faculties of; put into a stupor.

to stun, as with a narcotic, a shock, or a strong emotion.

to overwhelm with amazement; astound; astonish.

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

stupa, stupe, stupefacient, stupefaction, stupefactive, stupefy, stupendous, stupid, stupidity, stupor, sturbridge

Origin of stupefy

1590–1600; < Middle French stupefier ≪ Latin stupefacere to benumb, equivalent to stupe-, stem of stupēre to be numb or stunned + facere to make, do¹; see -fy

Related forms

stu·pe·fied·ness

[stoo-puh-fahyd-nis, -fahy-id-, styoo-] /ˈstu pəˌfaɪd nɪs, -ˌfaɪ ɪd-, ˈstyu-/, nounstu·pe·fi·er, nounstu·pe·fy·ing·ly, adverbun·stu·pe·fied, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for stupefied

I heard nothing, for I was quite fifty yards off; but by the woman's manner I could see she was stupefied.
Monsieur Lecoq, v.1|Emile Gaboriau
Mingled with his other emotions there now came to Weil a stupefied wonder at the apparent coolness of the novelist.
A Black Adonis|Linn Boyd Porter
Johannes, stunned by renewed pain, passed on through the cheering like one deafened and stupefied.
The Quest|Frederik van Eeden
Pelle was wearied and stupefied with the continual battle with hard reality.
Pelle the Conqueror, Complete|Martin Anderson Nexo

The prince was stupefied and stood gazing steadily at Rosalie.
Old French Fairy Tales|Comtesse de Sgur

British Dictionary definitions for stupefied

stupefy

/ (ˈstjuːpɪˌfaɪ) /

verb -fies, -fying or -fied (tr)

to render insensitive or lethargic

to confuse or astound

Derived Forms

stupefier, nounstupefying, adjectivestupefyingly, adverb

Word Origin for stupefy

C16: from Old French stupefier, from Latin stupefacere; see stupefacient

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012