Obs. Forms: 4–5 stoney, stonay, stunay, 4 stonye, (stoneȝe), 5 stuny, stonyyn (Promp. Parv.), 7 stunny, 4–7 stony. Pa. t. 4 stoneyd, stoneȝed, Sc. stonait, -ayit, 5 stonayd(e, stonaid, 4–7 stonyed. Pa. pple. 4 stoneyd, -eyed, Sc. stonayit, 4–5 stonayd, 5 -ayde, -ayed, Sc. stonayt, 5–6 stonyed, (6 stonied), 7 stunnied. See also STOYNE v. [Aphetic f. ASTONY v. (Prob. sometimes confused with STUN v.)]
1. trans. To stupefy with noise or with a shock to the mind or feelings, benumb the faculties of (a person); to confound, amaze. Also pass.
c. 1330. R. Brunne, Chron. Wace (Rolls), 16629. Cadwaladres, when he þys herde,… Stoneyed he was a wel god þrowe.
a. 1340. Hampole, Psalter, Prayer Habakkuk, 510. In furore obstupefacies gentes … in breth þou sall stunay genge. Ibid. (c. 1340), Pr. Treat., 43. Þise wordes when I here thaym or redis þam stonyes me and makis me gretly ferd.
1375. Barbour, Bruce, I. 299. Thair wes nane auentur that mocht Stunay hys hart.
1399. Langl., Rich. Redeles, II. 125. Þus ȝe derid hem vnduly…, And stonyed hem with stormes þat stynted neuere.
c. 1450. in Aungier, Syon (1840), 354. Yf the hyghe mas be bygon they schalle synge Ab inimicis … withe oute the chirche, for stonyeng of the preste at auter.
1470–85. Malory, Arthur, III. vii. 107. Syr gauayne was so stonyed of the deth of this fair lady that he wiste not what he dyd.
1596. Spenser, F. Q., V. xi. 30. Then gan she cry much louder then afore,… And Belge selfe was therewith stonied sore.
1612. Dekker, Lond. Tri., C 4 b. Envy.… Come You clouen-footed-brood of Barathrum Stop, stony her, fright her with your shreekes.
1660. Boyle, New Exp. Phys. Mech., v. 52. So loud and vehement a noise, as stony’d those that were by.
1688. S. Johnson, Purgatory Prob’d, Pref. 1. This Miracle stunnied the Dominicans for some time.
2. To amaze or stupefy with a blow, stun.
c. 1330. R. Brunne, Chron. Wace (Rolls), 12377. Arthur was stoneyd, stakered, & stynt, But ȝut fel be nought for þat dynt [of the giant].
c. 1370. Lay-Folks Mass-Bk., App. IV. 354. Lord greue ȝe not for þat dunt He stoneyed me and made me stunt Stille out of my steuene.
c. 1400. Sege Jerusalem (E.E.T.S.), 50. Þe worst wrecche in þe wone; may on walle lygge, Strike doun with a ston; & stuny many knyȝtes.
c. 1450. Merlin, xvi. 265. But he was stonyed of the stroke that he myght not stonde on his feet.
1470–85. Malory, Arthur, I. xvi. 58. He … smote hym on hyhe vpon the helme a grete stroke and stonyed hym sore.
1642. R. Carpenter, Experience, II. vii. 163. [They] cut off their fingers, when many of them were alive, and onely stunnied.
1645. Featley, Dippers Dipt (1646), 2, margin. The venturous Scotchman was so stunnied with this blow that he gave in.
3. To induce insensibility or loss of function in (a body or limb); to benumb, deaden.
1382. Wyclif, Gen. xxxii. 32. Therthurȝ that he towchide the synwe of his hipe, and it was stoneyd [Vulg. obstupuerit, 1388 dried].
1398. Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., XVII. cxii. (Tollem. MS.). Oyle may be so colde, þat he schall stony þe membre þat is bawmid þerwith.
c. 1403. Lydg., Temple of Glas, 683. Bicause he seith, þat stoneiþ al my bloode, I am so symple & she is so goode.
c. 1530. Judic Urines, III. ii. 48. Yf that parte of the hede be agreued & stuffed or stonyed, through euyll humours and fumosites.
1684. trans. Bonet’s Merc. Compit., IX. 335. The things that kill or stony them [i.e., worms] are all bitter, sharp, inciding, astringent things.
4. intr. To be stupefied with wonder or with fear.
1382. Wyclif, Isa. xiii. 8. Eche to his neȝhebore shall stoneȝe [1388 schal wondre. Vulg. stupebit]. Ibid. xix. 16. In that dai Egipt shal be as wymmen, and thei shul stoneȝen and dreden.
1436. Libel Eng. Policy, in Pol. Poems (Rolls), II. 200. By lande and see so welle he hym acquite, To speke of hym I stony in my witte.
c. 1440. York Myst., xxx. 223. Loo! he stonyes for vs, he stares where he standis.
5. To break, crush.
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 476/2. Stonyyn, or brese werkys, briso.
Hence † Stonying vbl. sb. Obs.
c. 1315. Shoreham, Poems, I. 954. Þer-fore by schryfte, man, schel be Wyþ-oute stoneynge.
1382. Wyclif, Jer. xix. 8. And Y shal sette this cite in to stoneyng [1388 wondring. Vulg. in stuporem].
1398. Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., XVII. ix. (1495), N vj b. Anetum sodde wyth oyle releasyth shrynkynge & stonyenge of synewes [L. rigorem nervorum].
c. 1430. Life of St. Kath. (Gibbs MS.), 76. Whiche hath turned us alle in suche stonyynge and merueylyng.
c. 1530. Judic. Urines, II. xii. 40 b. Litargia the lytargye is a stonyng of the brayne, wt forgetfulnes. Ibid., 42. [This] sheweth brestyng bresyng or stonyng of sum veyne in ye body.
1665–6. Phil. Trans., I. 223. The other [person struck by thunder or lightning] … besides a present stonying or numness, had no other hurt.
