stricken
stricken Lexical Profile
stricken Game Scores & Validity
• adjective
Seriously affected or overwhelmed by an undesirable condition, such as disease, misfortune, or an intense painful emotion.
"Emergency relief supplies were dispatched immediately to the drought-stricken region."
Showing signs of extreme distress, shock, guilt, or anguish in one's facial expression or demeanor.
"She looked at him with a stricken expression after realizing her mistake."
• verb
To afflict, overwhelm, or suddenly affect with an illness, misfortune, or strong emotion (used as a past participle of strike).
"Nearly half of the expedition members were stricken with malaria during the rainy season."
To delete, expunge, or remove something from an official record, list, or legal proceeding (used as a past participle of strike).
"The judge ordered that the witness's speculative remarks be stricken from the court transcript."
Word Nuance & Usage
While 'struck' is the standard past participle of 'strike' for most modern senses, 'stricken' is retained as an adjective for severe affliction (as in 'grief-stricken') and as a verb participle in legal or formal contexts meaning to delete or expunge (e.g., 'stricken from the record').
• Rhymes for stricken
Word Origin & Etymology
From Old English 'stricen', the historical past participle of 'strican' (to stroke, pass lightly over, or strike), from Proto-Germanic '*strikanan'.