v. Pa. t. and pple. thunderstruck (see also prec. and THUNDERSTRUCK). [prob. a back-formation from thunderstricken, that being taken as a pa. pple.]
1. trans. (lit.) To strike with ‘thunder’ or lightning (cf. THUNDER sb. 1 b). ? Obs.
1613. Heywood, Brazen Age, IV. Wks. 1874, III. 232. My father [Jove] … startles vp to thunder-strike the lad [Phaeton].
1666. T. Neale, in Phil. Trans., I. 247. The Account … by the learned Dr. Charleton, concerning the boy that was Thunder-struck near Nantwich in Cheshire.
1710. W. King, Heathen Gods & Heroes, liv. (1722), 186. Charybdis … was Thunder-struck by Jupiter, and transformed into a Sea-Monster.
a. 1711. Ken, Christophil, Poet. Wks. 1721, I. 442. Angels … Expected when Almighty Ire Shou’d Thunder-strike our guilty Sire.
1902. Greenough & Kittredge, Words, 309. ‘Astonish’ is literally ‘to thunderstrike,’ and was once common in the physical sense of ‘stun.’
2. fig. To strike as with ‘thunder.’ a. To strike with amazement, astonish greatly. Obs. exc. as in thunderstricken, thunderstruck.
1613–. [see THUNDERSTRUCK 2 a].
1721. G. Roussillon, trans. Vertot’s Rev. Portugal, 104. This message thunder-struck the Duke.
1789. M. Nuber, Lett., in Ld. Auckland’s Corr. (1861), II. 324. This revolution thunder-strikes the keenest man.
1807. Southey, Espriella’s Lett., III. 183. The news … thunderstruck all present.
b. To inflict severe or terrible vengeance, reproof, or the like, upon. In quot. 1818 in physical sense, to batter severely.
1638. Sir T. Herbert, Trav. (ed. 2), 71. He had … thunder struck him, with a storme of mighty words.
1650. Trapp, Comm. Exod. xix. 16. To terrifie and thunder-strike offenders.
1699. Cibber, Xerxes, V. To Thunder-strike thy Soul.
1818. Byron, Ch. Har., IV. clxxxi. The armaments which thunderstrike the walls.
