moonstruck

Adjective

moonstruck (comparative more moonstruck, superlative most moonstruck)

1. (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...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

   Synonyms:

   lunatic, moonstricken

2. (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

   Synonyms:

   moonstricken

3. (regional, obsolete except UK) Made physically sick, or (like fish) unsuitable for food, by the supposed effect of moonlight.
   • "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...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...