Also 5, 7 stupour. [a. L. stupor, f. stup-ēre: see STUPID. Cf. F. stupeur, Sp., Pg. estupor, It. stupore.]
1. A state of insensibility or lethargy; spec. in Path., a disorder characterized by great diminution or entire suspension of sensibility.
Stupor of the teeth: trans. med.L. stupor dentium, the rendering, in the ancient translation of Galen, of Gr. αἱμωδία, ‘a scorbutic affection of the gums’ (L. & Sc.).
1398. Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., VII. vii. (1495), 227. Stupor is a lettynge and stonyenge of lymmes and crokynge of the vtter partyes of the body for colde so that it semyth that the lymmes shrynke and slepe.
1656. trans. Hobbes’ Elem. Philos. (1839), 395. For what is stupor but that which the Greeks call ἀναισθησία, that is, a cessation from the sense of other things?
1666. G. Harvey, Morbus Angl., x. (1672), 28. Various Diseases, as Catarrhs, stupors, [etc.].
1678. Gale, Crt. Gentiles, IV. III. iii. 91. By the spirit of deep sleep, must be understood such a stupor of spirit as leaves men without al sense.
1746. R. James, Moffet’s Health Improv., Introd. 12. Acid Eructations, which have in some Cases been so sharp as to induce a Stupor of the Teeth.
1752. Phil. Trans., XLVII. 413. There appear’d some signs of stupor from the medicine.
1822–9. Good, Study Med. (ed. 3), IV. 500. The pricking pain like that of pins, or of a limb awaking from stupor.
1843. R. J. Graves, Syst. Clin. Med., v. 71. An expergefaciant … was employed to rouse a patient from the lethargic stupor brought on by a large dose of opium.
a. 1849. Poe, Tales, Oval Portrait, Wks. 1874, I. 281. The first flashing of the candles upon that canvas had seemed to dissipate the dreamy stupor which was stealing over my senses.
a. 1859. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., xxv. V. 289. James sank into a stupor which indicated the near approach of death.
1899. Conan Doyle, Duet, viii. 111. She had drunk herself into the stupor in which she had been found.
b. = DEMENTIA 1.
Anergic stupor, a form of dementia in which the patient is quiet, listless and non-resistant. Delusional stupor, stuporous insanity or acute dementia. (Dorland, Med. Dict., 1913.)
1899. Allbutt’s Syst. Med., VIII. 297. Stupor, both in its melancholic and anergic varieties, is found much more frequently during the age of adolescence than in any other period of life.
2. A state of mental stupefaction; apathy or torpor of mind (now only, torpor or prostration of mind due to sorrow, painful surprise, or the like).
a. 1672. Wilkins, Nat. Relig., 267. That stupor and benummedness of spirit, whereby men are made unapprehensive of their afflictions.
1784. Cowper, Task, IV. 283. Laugh ye, who boast your more mercurial pow’rs, That never feel a stupor, know no pause, Nor need one.
1786. Burns, Lament, x. Oh! scenes in strong remembrance set!… Scenes, if in stupor I forget, Again I feel, again I burn!
1837. Carlyle, Fr. Rev., I. II. iii. Our Church stands … like a dumb ox … with dumb stupor, expecting its further doom.
1838. Dickens, Nich. Nick., xv. The back parlour sat with her mouth wide open, staring vacantly at the collector, in a stupor of dismay.
1841. Elphinstone, Hist. Ind., XII. iii. II. 633. The inhabitants of Delhi remained in a sort of stupor. They had not yet recovered the terror of the past.
1850. Grote, Greece, II. lx. VII. 457. A downcast stupor and sense of abasement possessed every man.
1863. Mrs. Oliphant, Salem Chapel, xxii. It was very different from the stupor of agony.
transf. 1772. Burke, Lett. to W. Dowdeswell (1844), I. 346. I do not suppose that there was ever anything like this stupor in any period of our history.
1855. Disraeli, in G. E. Buckle, Life (1916), IV. i. 23. There has been a great stupor over affairs since we parted, or since I last wrote, but there are now indications of events.
1879. Morley, Burke, iv. 62. The war with the American colonies was preceded by an interval of stupor.
b. Admiring wonder. Also (after med.L. stupor mundi), the object of wonder, ‘the marvel of’ (the world, etc.).
1482. Monk of Evesham (Arb.), 26. Yet beyng holde in a certeyn stupour and wondyr of mynde of suche thinges that he had seyne.
1599. Broughton’s Lett., viii. 26. You Cynosura and Lucifer of nations, the stupor and admiration of the world.
1619. Purchas, Microcosmus, lxxiii. 727. What shall we say of Him,… the great Stupor and Wonder of Diuines?
1633. ‘H. A.’ (H. Hawkins), Parthenia Sacra, 237. That Cæsar of Cæsars in captiuing … Caligula the Roman Monark, to the stupour and amazement of the world.
1706. Phillips (ed. Kersey), Stupor,… Astonishment, Amazement;… Wonder, Surprise.
3. Stupidity, dullness of comprehension. rare.
1845. Carlyle, Cromwell (1871), III. 126. One stupid Annotator … says [etc.]; which is evidently downright stupor and falsehood.
4. Comb.
1823. Scoresby, Jrnl., 376. A dripping stupor-struck sailor, clinging by the weather-raill, comes aft at the moment.
1833. Lamb, Elia, Product. Mod. Art. Bowed, bent down, so would they have remained, stupor-fixed, with no thought of struggling with that inevitable judgment.
