speechless

From Middle English specheles, from Old English sprǣċlēas (“speechless; without the power of speak”), from Proto-Germanic *sprēkalausaz, equivalent to speech +‎ -less. Cognate with West Frisian sprakeleas (“speechless”), Dutch sprakeloos (“speechless”), German Low German spraaklos (“speechless”), German sprachlos (“speechless”).

• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈspiːt͡ʃ.lɪs/

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speechless (not comparable)

1. Not speaking; not knowing what to say; silent, especially due to surprise, amazement, etc.

   When he walked into his surprise birthday party, he was completely speechless.

   • 1966, James Workman, The Mad Emperor, Melbourne, Sydney: Scripts, page 62:

     The attack was so unwarranted and delivered with such venom that his unpreparedness for it left him speechless.

2. (archaic) Synonym of unspeakable.
   • 1690, John Dryden, The State of Innocence, and Fall of Man, J.M., page 14:

     Immortal Pleaſures round my ſwimming Eyes did dance,
     And ſpeechleſs Joys, in whoſe ſweet Tumult toſt,
     I thought my Breath, and my new Being loſt.

   • 1902, Gilbert Murray, Euripides, Longmans, Green, and co., page 32:

     O Mother Earth, O Sun that makest clean,
     What poison have I heard, what speechless sin !

• speechlessness