stupefy

[stoo-puh-fahy, styoo-]

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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.

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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 formsstu·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

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

to render insensitive or lethargic

to confuse or astound

Derived Formsstupefier, 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

Word Origin and History for stupefied

stupefy

1510s (implied in past participle stupefact), from Middle French stupéfier, from Latin stupefacere "make stupid or senseless," from stupere "be stunned" (see stupid) + facere "to make" (see factitious).