twitterpated

Twitterpated is a term that describes a state of being infatuated or smitten with someone. It conveys a feeling of giddy excitement and preoccupation with a romantic interest, often leading to a state of distraction. The word suggests a head-over-heels feeling, where thoughts are constantly turned towards the object of affection.

The term gained widespread recognition through the 1942 Disney animated film Bambi. In the movie, the young fawn Bambi experiences this state when he first encounters a female deer named Faline. The characters in the film are depicted as behaving in a somewhat clumsy and overly enthusiastic manner due to their mutual infatuation, illustrating the "twitterpated" condition.

While the term originated in popular culture, it has since entered common usage. It is often used informally to describe the early stages of romantic attraction or infatuation, particularly when it manifests as an overwhelming and somewhat foolish obsession. The "twittering" aspect of the word implies a sense of nervous energy and constant chatter, both internally and potentially externally, associated with this feeling. It is not a clinical term but rather a descriptive adjective for a specific emotional and behavioral response to romantic interest.