strike

to hit, deal a blow

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A South Asian woman stunned with grief beside the remains of her storm-damaged home, supported by a friend, no bodies.

adjective

stricken

STRIK-un/ˈstrɪkən/

Severely affected by suffering or strong emotion.

Etymology

strickEnglishto hit, deal a blow

+enEnglishmade of or resembling

Stricken is an older past participle of strike, first used adjectivally for a deer wounded in a hunt. A physical blow became an image for being overwhelmed or brought down by illness, grief, or disaster.

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stricken