stunned
/stʌnd/
adjective
Origin
Old English
stunian — to resound, crash, or strike with a loud noise
Overview
Meaning Now
- Having lost the power of thought or speech due to shock, astonishment, or a physical blow.
Language path
Proto-Indo-European → Proto-Germanic → Old English → Middle English → English
Earliest form
stoned
Earliest period
16th century
Journey
The root of 'stun' relates to the Old English 'stunian', which implied a violent impact causing a loud noise. Over time, the meaning migrated from the physical sensation of a loud noise or impact to the cognitive and emotional state of being overwhelmed by sudden information or shock.
Evolution
- Old English
stunian
“to make a crashing sound, to daze by a blow”
- Middle English
stonen
“to strike so as to daze or kill”
- 16th century
stun
“to stupefy or benumb”
development of the modern verb sense
- Modern English
stunned
“in a state of shocked disbelief”
past participle used as an adjective
Connections
Word parts
stun
root
to daze or shock
-ned
ending
past participle suffix
Related across languages
Old High German
stunen
to roar or crash
Old Norse
stynja
to groan or moan
Related words
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External references use DefinedTerm semantics.