moonstruck meaning (archaic): definition

moonstruck

adj

UK /ˈmuːnstɹʌk/ · US /ˈmunˌstɹʌk/

Etymology From moon + struck (adjective), possibly coined by the English poet and polemicist John Milton (1608–1674): see the quotation. Compare Byzantine Greek σεληνόβλητος (selēnóblētos), σεληνόπληκτος (selēnóplēktos), German mondsüchtig, and German Low German maansüchtig, which also refer to being struck by the moon.

Archaic Of a person: perverted or insane, originally supposedly due to the influence of the Moon; compare lunatic.

VVhat miſerie th' inabſtinence of Eve / Shall bring on men. […] all maladies / Of gaſtly Spaſm, or racking torture, qualmes / Of heart-ſick Agonie, all feavorous kinds, / Convulſions, Epilepſies, fierce Catarrhs, / Inteſtin Stone and Ulcer, Colic pangs, / Dæmoniac Phrenzie, moaping Melanchole / And Moon-ſtruck madneſs, pining Atrophie, / Maraſmus, and vvide-vvaſting Peſtilence, / Dropſies, and Aſthma's, and Joint-racking Rheums.1674, John Milton, “Book XI”, in Paradise Lost. […], 2nd edition, London: […] S[amuel] Simmons […], →OCLC, pages 299–300:
'Tvvas vvhen the Dog-ſtar's unpropitious ray / Smote ev'ry brain, and vvither'd ev'ry Bay; / Sick vvas the Sun, the Ovvl forſook his bovv'r, / The moon-ſtruck Prophet felt the madding hour: […]1742, [Alexander Pope], “Book the Fourth”, in The New Dunciad: As is^([sic]) It was Found in the Year 1741. […], Dublin: […] George Faulkner, →OCLC, page 10, lines 9–12:

1 more example

It may be that there have been many moonstruck and misleading ideals that have from time to time perplexed mankind. But assuredly there has been no ideal in practice so moonstruck and misleading as the ideal of practicality.1905, Gilbert K[eith] Chesterton, “Introductory Remarks on the Importance of Orthodoxy”, in Heretics, London; New York, N.Y.: John Lane; The Bodley Head, →OCLC, pages 20–21:

Figuratively Showing irrational behaviour, especially of a romantic or sentimental nature; in an entranced or distracted state, especially due to being in love.

[…] I, the moon-struck slave of Dora, perambulated round and round the house and garden for two hours, […] blowing kisses at the lights in the windows, and romantically calling on the night, at intervals, to shield my Dora—I don't know exactly what from, I suppose from fire.1849 May – 1850 November, Charles Dickens, “Blissful”, in The Personal History of David Copperfield, London: Bradbury & Evans, […], published 1850, →OCLC, page 335:
"Up, Tristram, up," men cry, "thou moonstruck knight! / What foul fiend rides thee? On into the fight!" / —Above the din her voice is in my ears— / I see her form glide through the crossing spears,— / Iseult! … .1852, [Matthew] A[rnold], “Tristram and Iseult. I. Tristram.”, in Empedocles on Etna, and Other Poems, London: B. Fellowes, […], pages 120–121:

2 more examples

[W]e can also overlook the verbiage of a good deal of the mind-cure literature, some of which is so moonstruck with optimism and so vaguely expressed that an academically trained intellect finds it almost impossible to read it at all.1902, William James, “Lectures IV and V: The Religion of Healthy-mindedness”, in The Varieties of Religious Experience: A Study in Human Nature […] , New York, N.Y.; London: Longmans, Green, and Co. […], →OCLC, page 96:
The full moon was spacious now behind the maples. The seedy Pickerbaugh domain was enchanted; […] and over all the world was the proper witchery of moonstruck love.1925, Sinclair Lewis, chapter XXI, in Arrowsmith, New York, N.Y.: Harcourt, Brace and Company, →OCLC, section IV, page 232:

Regional Made physically sick, or (like fish) unsuitable for food, by the supposed effect of moonlight.

Obsolete except UK

"Yes, yes, thank God! I am not blind; I was afraid I was moon-struck." "Moon-struck!" uttered Carlos in astonishment. "What do you mean?" "Why, don't you know," answered Antonio, "that sleeping in the open air by moonlight often causes contractions, and sometimes makes persons blind whenever the moon shines?"1847, [Sarah Bowdich] Lee, chapter XVIII, in The African Crusoes: Or The Adventures of Carlos and Antonio, Boston, Mass.: Lee and Shepard; New York, N.Y.: Lee, Shepard & Dillingham, […], published 1873, →OCLC, pages 392–393:

Related terms: moonblind, starstruck, star-struck, sunstruck