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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.

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