Stupors

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A state of mental or physical inactivity characterized by a lack of alertness or responsiveness
2. A condition in which an individual is unable to respond due to a lack of awareness or consciousness
3. An unconscious or semi-conscious state where one's awareness and reactions are significantly diminished

Etymology: "Stupors" is simply the plural of "stupor," so it refers to several states of deep unconsciousness or numbness, or to such states as they occur over time or in different people. The singular comes from Latin "stupor," meaning insensibility, numbness, or dullness, and entered English in the late Middle Ages. The Latin noun grew from the verb "stupere," to be stunned or struck senseless, and the image behind it is physical: a person hit hard enough to lose their wits. That bodily sense of being stunned is still visible in the English word, which describes a mind dulled to the point of near-unconsciousness rather than a mere lapse of attention.

Synonyms: daze, shock, unconsciousness

Antonyms: alertness, awareness