stupefy
UK: /ˈstjuːpɪfaɪ/ | US: /ˈstuːpɪfaɪ/
vt. to make someone unable to think or feel properly, especially through shock or astonishment
vt. to cause a state of dullness or insensibility
stupefy = stupe<dullness> + fy<make>
- stupe (from Latin stupere "to be stunned"): Implies a state of numbness or mental dullness.
- fy (from Latin -ficare, a combining form of facere "to make"): A verb-forming suffix meaning "to cause or produce."
Etymology Origin:
The word "stupefy" originates from Latin stupere (to be stunned) combined with -ficare (to make). It entered English via Old French stupéfier, retaining the core idea of inducing a stunned or insensible state. The morphemes logically combine to mean "to make dull or stunned," reflecting its modern usage.
The magician's trick was designed to stupefy the audience.
The sheer scale of the disaster stupefied the rescue team.
Excessive heat can stupefy the mind, making it hard to focus.
The news of his sudden death stupefied everyone at the party.
The drug's side effects may temporarily stupefy the patient.