folgorare
to strike down; to electrocute
verb fol-goh-RAH-reh Rare
Origin: From Latin fulgurare (to flash with lightning), from fulgur (lightning).
Also means
to dazzle; to overwhelm
Usage Note
Folgorare literally means to strike with lightning or an electric shock (è stato folgorato da un cavo — he was electrocuted by a wire). Figuratively it conveys an overwhelming, sudden impact: la notizia lo ha folgorato (the news struck him like lightning). It takes avere as auxiliary. The related adjective is folgorante (dazzling, devastating).
Examples
"Un fulmine lo folgorò sul posto."
Natural Translation
A lightning bolt struck him on the spot.
Related Words
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