winded

1. 1
   adjective

   Out of breath; temporarily unable to breathe normally, usually after exertion.

   The boxer was winded by a hard punch to the ribs.

   Climbing six flights of stairs left the old man badly winded.

   Similarbreathless, puffed, gasping

   Note

   Here the participle has settled into a true adjective. It names the state that the verb's past form brings about when something knocks the breath out of someone. It grades like any adjective: more winded, most winded, badly winded. When effort is the cause, it usually takes from (winded from her long run). When a blow is the cause, it takes by (winded by a punch).

2. 2
   verb

   Simple past and past participle of wind.

   The punch winded him before he could react.

   Hikers winded by the steep ascent paused at the ridge.

   Note

   A regular -ed form that serves every use of the verb built on wind as moving air, not only knocking the breath out of someone. A huntsman winded his horn, hounds winded a deer, grain was winded on the threshing floor, and in British use a nurse winded a baby or a crew winded a boat around. The spelling is the same in each case, so only context tells them apart.

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