all-a-mort
1. Struck dumb, insensible, or motionless with fear or confusion. His speech was full of such fire and anger that I was rendered all-a-mort for a few moments afterward. Our father's announcement that he was resigning from the company left us all-a-mort. We were both all-a-mort when we noticed the alligator approaching the banks of the river.
2. In a dying or half-dead state; depressed or dejected, as in one who feels half dead. Possibly a corruption of "alamort," meaning the same, or a reference to a "mort," the sound from a hunter's horn to signal the death of an animal being hunted. I'm all-a-mort these past two days; I know not if I shall live beyond the week. That four-hour hike was so exhausting. I felt all-a-mort by the time we got back to the car. I was all-a-mort for a while there, but starting therapy and seeing a psychiatrist has really helped.
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