How Do You Spell PANIC STRICKEN?

1. Panic-stricken is an adjective that describes a person or group of individuals who are experiencing extreme fear, anxiety, and distress due to a sudden and overwhelming situation or event. It refers to a state of being that is dominated by intense panic.

   When someone is panic-stricken, they are generally unable to think clearly or act rationally. Their fear or terror is so extreme that it may impair their ability to make sound decisions or respond appropriately to their surroundings. Panic-stricken individuals may exhibit physical and emotional symptoms, such as rapid breathing, increased heart rate, trembling, sweating, a sense of impending doom, and an overwhelming urge to escape or find safety.

   This term is often used in situations where individuals are faced with unexpected and deeply threatening circumstances, such as natural disasters, sudden acts of violence, or extreme danger. Panic-stricken can also be utilized to describe individuals who are overwhelmed by fear or agitation in response to a more abstract, non-physical threat, such as financial crisis, relationship breakdown, or an impending deadline.

   Overall, panic-stricken portrays a state of extreme panic and distress, indicating that an individual's mental and emotional well-being is significantly impaired as a result of an overwhelming and sudden frightful situation.

The word "panic" originated from the Greek word "panikon" (neuter of panikos), which means "pertaining to Pan", the god of forests and fields, who was also believed to cause sudden, unexplained, and groundless fear in people. The term "panikon" was later adopted into Latin as "panicus".

The word "stricken" comes from the Old English word "strican", meaning "to touch lightly" or "to touch quickly". Over time, "strican" evolved to "stricken", which eventually took on the meaning of "affected by a sudden, negative emotion or condition".

Therefore, when the terms "panic" and "stricken" are used together, "panic-stricken" is used to describe someone who is gripped with sudden, overwhelming fear or terror.