astonish
[uh-ston-ish]
- to fill with sudden and overpowering surprise or wonder; amaze: Her easy humor and keen intellect astonished me.
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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
See more synonyms for astonish on Thesaurus.comastound, startle, shock. See surprise.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for astonish
Contemporary Examples
To question that which seems to have ceased forever to astonish us.
They frighten a few people (mostly each other), are rude to bystanders and astonish a cleaning lady.
His book should astonish both liberals and conservatives—and for very different reasons.
It may astonish readers to know, then, that it was Jews that invented our idea of heaven.
Historical Examples
But this does not astonish us when we understand the difficulties which he was obliged to solve.
Ancient ManHendrik Willem van Loon
"Why, certainly I was," said Linda, wide eyed with astonish meet.
Her Father's DaughterGene Stratton-Porter
But after what he had heard nothing could astonish him any more.
The Secret AgentJoseph Conrad
Mr. Solmes has something to open to you, that will astonish you—and you shall hear it.
Clarissa, Volume 2 (of 9)Samuel Richardson
There is another manifestation of his power which will astonish those who consider it.
A Dish Of OrtsGeorge MacDonald
astonish
- (tr) to fill with amazement; surprise greatly
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Word Origin
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
v.
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.
No wonder is thogh that she were astoned [Chaucer, "Clerk's Tale"]
Related: Astonished; astonishing; astonishingly.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper