Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • adjective Dazzling or stunning in effect.
  • adjective Medicine Occurring suddenly and severely. Used of a disease.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • Sudden and overwhelming in effect; like a lightning-stroke.
  • Specifically, in pathology, beginning in a very sudden and severe form: said of disease.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • adjective Having an awesome and overwhelming effect.

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[French, from present participle of foudroyer, to strike with lightning, from foudre, lightning, from Old French fouldre, from Latin fulgur, from fulgēre, to flash; see bhel- in Indo-European roots.]

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Examples

  • A variety of grass favored for pastures. foudroyant

    Robert Beard’s 100 most beautiful words in English 2009

  • A variety of grass favored for pastures. foudroyant

    2009 January | NIGEL BEALE NOTA BENE BOOKS 2009

  • A variety of grass favored for pastures. foudroyant

    2009 January 28 | NIGEL BEALE NOTA BENE BOOKS 2009

  • Helen Darley as a foil anybody would know she must be foudroyant and pyramidal, -- if these French adjectives may be naturalized for this one particular exigency.

    The Atlantic Monthly, Volume 06, No. 37, November, 1860 Various

  • "Splendid!" said the Widow -- and to tell the truth, she was not far out of the way, and with Helen Darley as a foil anybody would know she must be foudroyant and pyramidal, -- if these French adjectives may be naturalized for this one particular exigency.

    Complete Project Gutenberg Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr. Works Oliver Wendell Holmes 1851

  • "Splendid!" said the Widow -- and to tell the truth, she was not far out of the way, and with Helen Darley as a foil anybody would know she must be foudroyant and pyramidal, -- if these French adjectives may be naturalized for this one particular exigency.

    Elsie Venner Oliver Wendell Holmes 1851

  • Mornington (author of the well-known glees) as a cousin, and as intimately connected with her brother the great _foudroyant_ performer on the organ.

    Note Book of an English Opium-Eater Thomas De Quincey 1822

  • (all that was objectionable was attributed to this poor lady) had been so abominably clear-sighted, so odiously presuming as to have suspected this, his sudden blaze of anger was _foudroyant_.

    The Marriage of Elinor 1862

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