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astonish
[ uh-ston-ish ]
/ ÉËstÉn ÉȘÊ /
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verb (used with object)
to fill with sudden and overpowering surprise or wonder; amaze: Her easy humor and keen intellect astonished me.
QUIZ
THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?
Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.
Question 1 of 7
In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known asâŠ
Origin of astonish
First recorded in 1525â35; Middle English astonyen, astonen, probably from unattested dialectal Old French astoner, Old French estoner, from unattested Vulgar Latin extonÄre, for Latin attonÄre âto strike with lightning,â equivalent to ex-ex-1, at- at- + tonÄre âto thunderâ; extended by -ish2, perhaps reflecting unattested Anglo-French astonir, from dialectal Old French; see thunder
synonym study for astonish
See surprise.
OTHER WORDS FROM astonish
as·ton·ish·er, nounsu·per·as·ton·ish, verbWords nearby astonish
astomatous, Aston, Aston dark space, stone's throw, a, astonied, astonish, astonished, astonishing, astonishment, Astor, Astoria
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use astonish in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for astonish
astonish
/ (ÉËstÉnÉȘÊ) /
verb
(tr) to fill with amazement; surprise greatly
Word Origin for astonish
C15: from earlier astonyen (see astonied), from Old French estoner, from Vulgar Latin extonÄre (unattested) to strike with thunder, from Latin tonÄre to thunder
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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