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Webster 1913 Edition


Astonishment

As-ton′ish-ment

,
Noun.
[Cf. OF.
estonnement
, F.
étonnement
.]
1.
The condition of one who is stunned. Hence: Numbness; loss of sensation; stupor; loss of sense.
[Obs.]
A coldness and
astonishment
in his loins, as folk say.
Holland.
2.
Dismay; consternation.
[Archaic]
Spenser.
3.
The overpowering emotion excited when something unaccountable, wonderful, or dreadful is presented to the mind; an intense degree of surprise; amazement.
Lest the place
And my quaint habits breed
astonishment
.
Milton.
4.
The object causing such an emotion.
Thou shalt become an
astonishment
.
Deut. xxviii. 37.
Syn. – Amazement; wonder; surprise.

Webster 1828 Edition


Astonishment

ASTON'ISHMENT

,
Noun.
Amazement; confusion of mind from fear, surprise or admiration, at an extraordinary or unexpected event.

Definition 2024


astonishment

astonishment

English

Astonishment, lithograph by Thomas Fairland after W. H. Hunt, c. 1870s

Noun

astonishment (countable and uncountable, plural astonishments)

  1. amazement, great surprise
  2. An amazing thing or phenomenon.
    • 1964: Roald Dahl, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
      Everything he had seen so far the great chocolate river, the waterfall, the huge sucking pipes, the candy meadows, the Oompa-Loompas, the beautiful pink boat, and most of all, Mr. Willy Wonka himself had been so astonishing that he began to wonder whether there could possibly be any more astonishments left.

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