Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Insane and believed to be affected by the phases of the moon: Describes a state of madness or lunacy, historically thought to be influenced by the moon.
   • Romantically dreamy or distracted: Used more figuratively to describe someone who is behaving in a dazed, absent-minded, or dreamily romantic manner.

Usage Examples

• Literal/Historical Sense:

  • The old tales spoke of villagers becoming moonstruck and wandering the forests at night.
  • In the past, erratic behavior was sometimes attributed to being moonstruck.

• Figurative/Modern Sense:

  • Ever since they met, she's been completely moonstruck, forgetting appointments and smiling to herself.
  • He walked around the office in a moonstruck daze after getting the good news.

Advanced Usage

• "moonstruck lover": A cliché term for someone who is besotted and acting dreamily because of love.
  • He played the part of the moonstruck lover perfectly in the romantic comedy.

Variants and Related Words

• Lunatic (adj/n): Insane or wildly foolish. Shares the same Latin root ( meaning moon).
• Lunacy (n): Insanity, formerly attributed to changes of the moon.

Synonyms

• Lovesick: Weak with longing for love (for the figurative sense).
• Distracted: Unable to concentrate because one's mind is preoccupied.
• Bewitched: As if under a spell.

Idioms and Phrases

• To be moonstruck over someone/something: To be infatuated or obsessively dreamy about someone or something.
  • She's been moonstruck over that singer since the concert.

Adjective

1. insane and believed to be affected by the phases of the moon