astonish

[ uh-ston-ish ]

/ əˈstɒn ɪʃ /

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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.

Nearby words

Origin of astonish

1525–35; Middle English astonyen, astonen, probably < dialectal Old French *astoner, Old French estoner < Vulgar Latin *extonāre, for Latin attonāre to strike with lightning, equivalent to ex- ex-¹, at- at- + tonāre to thunder; extended by -ish², perhaps reflecting Anglo-French *astonir < dialectal Old French

SYNONYMS FOR astonish

astound, startle, shock. See surprise.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR astonish ON THESAURUS.COM

Related formsas·ton·ished·ly, adverbas·ton·ish·er, nounsu·per·as·ton·ish, verbun·as·ton·ished, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for astonish

To question that which seems to have ceased forever to astonish us.
To Dream a Dream: Georges Perec’s Night Visions|Lauren Elkin|December 26, 2013|DAILY BEAST
They frighten a few people (mostly each other), are rude to bystanders and astonish a cleaning lady.
P.J. O’Rourke Picks His Favorite Travel Books|P. J. O’Rourke|November 12, 2011|DAILY BEAST
His book should astonish both liberals and conservatives—and for very different reasons.
George Bush's Book Will Offend the Right|Matt Latimer|November 10, 2010|DAILY BEAST
But after what he had heard nothing could astonish him any more.
The Secret Agent|Joseph Conrad

The painter, irritated still further, retorted: "That does not astonish me—from him!"
Strong as Death|Guy de Maupassant
Do not press me on that point, if you please, I might astonish and offend you.
The Memories of Fifty Years|William H. Sparks
The miracles of the gospel could not astonish a people who held with intrepid faith the more splendid prodigies of the Mosaic law.
The History of The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire|Edward Gibbon
I believe it will astonish you, too, my dears, when you hear it.
The Road to Oz|L. Frank Baum

British Dictionary definitions for astonish

astonish

/ (əˈstɒnɪʃ) /

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 extonāre (unattested) to strike with thunder, from Latin tonāre to thunder

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for astonish

astonish

c.1300, astonien, from Old French estoner "to stun, daze, deafen, astound," from Vulgar Latin *extonare, from Latin ex- "out" + tonare "to thunder" (see thunder); so, literally "to leave someone thunderstruck." The modern form (influenced by English verbs in -ish, e.g. distinguish, diminish) is attested from c.1530.