foudroyant
Sep. 4th, 2024 07:29 amfoudroyant (foo-DROI-uhnt) - adj., having an awesome and overwhelming effect.
As if being struck by lightning -- a comparison not chosen at random as it's the root sense: it's from French, the present participle of foudroyer, to strike with lightning, from foudre, lightning, from Old French fouldre, from Latin fulgur, from fulgēre, to flash, ultimately from PIE root *bʰel-, shimmer/gleam/shine. It's also used in somewhat outdated medical jargon in the sense of having a sudden and severe onset, but most of us can ignore that.

Thanks, WikiMedia!
---L.
As if being struck by lightning -- a comparison not chosen at random as it's the root sense: it's from French, the present participle of foudroyer, to strike with lightning, from foudre, lightning, from Old French fouldre, from Latin fulgur, from fulgēre, to flash, ultimately from PIE root *bʰel-, shimmer/gleam/shine. It's also used in somewhat outdated medical jargon in the sense of having a sudden and severe onset, but most of us can ignore that.

Thanks, WikiMedia!
---L.