verbijsterde

Verbijsterde is a Dutch word meaning astonished or stunned, often conveying a strong, momentary disbelief. It functions in two main ways: as the finite past tense form of the verb verbijsteren (to astonish) and as the past participle adjective form derived from verbijsterd.

As a finite verb form, verbijsteren expresses that someone or something astonished others in the past. For example: Het nieuws verbijsterde de toeschouwers. (The news astonished the spectators.) The word can also appear in different persons and tenses following standard Dutch conjugation patterns.

As an adjective, verbijsterde is used in attributive or predicative positions to describe a person or thing that is astonished. The base participle verbijsterd is the more common adjective form, with verbijsterde appearing in places where the adjective shows typical inflection, for example: de verbijsterde reiziger (the astonished traveler).

Usage notes and related terms. Verbijsteren is a stronger, more emphatic synonym of verb en verbazen, such as verbazen or verbijten in contexts of surprise, awe, or disbelief. Verbijsterd is the standard adjective form meaning “astonished.” The expression often appears in literary or journalistic Dutch to emphasize a strong reaction to surprising news, events, or statements.

Translations. In English, verbijsterde translates roughly as astonished, astounded, or stunned, depending on context. Related Dutch terms include verbeelding, verbazen, and verbaasd, which cover related shades of surprise and disbelief.

See also: verbijsteren, verbeisterd, verbaasd, verbazen.