STUPEFACTION

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does stupefaction mean? 

• STUPEFACTION (noun)
  The noun STUPEFACTION has 3 senses:

1. a feeling of stupefied astonishment

2. marginal consciousness

3. the action of stupefying; making dull or lethargic

  Familiarity information: STUPEFACTION used as a noun is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• STUPEFACTION (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A feeling of stupefied astonishment

Classified under:

Nouns denoting feelings and emotions

Hypernyms ("stupefaction" is a kind of...):

amazement; astonishment (the feeling that accompanies something extremely surprising)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "stupefaction"):

daze; shock; stupor (the feeling of distress and disbelief that you have when something bad happens accidentally)

Derivation:

stupefy (be a mystery or bewildering to)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Marginal consciousness

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Synonyms:

grogginess; semiconsciousness; stupefaction; stupor

Context example:

someone stole his wallet while he was in a drunken stupor

Hypernyms ("stupefaction" is a kind of...):

unconsciousness (a state lacking normal awareness of the self or environment)

Sense 3

Meaning:

The action of stupefying; making dull or lethargic

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Context example:

the professor was noted for his stupefaction of the students

Hypernyms ("stupefaction" is a kind of...):

action (something done (usually as opposed to something said))

Derivation:

stupefy (make senseless or dizzy by or as if by a blow)

stupefy (make dull or stupid or muddle with drunkenness or infatuation)

 Context examples 

At first, it was a sort of stupefaction; but every moment was quickening her perception of the horrible evil.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)