astonish

[uh-ston-ish]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR astonish ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object)

to fill with sudden and overpowering surprise or wonder; amaze: Her easy humor and keen intellect astonished me.

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

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

Synonyms for astonish

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR astonish ON THESAURUS.COM

astound, startle, shock. See surprise.

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

Related Words for astonished

dumbfound, bewilder, overwhelm, flabbergast, shock, astound, boggle, confound, amaze, startle, daze, stupefy, stun, stagger, floor

Examples from the Web for astonished

Contemporary Examples of astonished

I was astonished by his work and very grateful that fate had thrown us together.
Robin Williams and Christopher Reeve's Epic Friendship and the Greatest Williams Story Ever Told
Marlow Stern
August 12, 2014
I was astonished at some of the figures you came up with, specifically about Jewish immigrants.
When New York City Hit Its Stride
Allen Barra
July 17, 2014
People were astonished by his impassioned speeches at separatist meetings.
The Kremlin’s Crazy Shock Troops
Oleg Shynkarenko
May 22, 2014
The signed letter that Winnie got in return, thanking her for the present, was passed around the family with astonished reverence.
Prince George and the New Royal Baby Rules
Tom Sykes
April 10, 2014
But what has astonished her this year, she says, is the firearm trend.
Baby Names: Gunning For Trouble?
Abby Haglage
February 19, 2014

Historical Examples of astonished

Mr. Gladstone attacked the bill with a power and vehemence which astonished the House.
The Grand Old Man
Richard B. Cook
Preparations which astonished the young guest already arrived.
Ester Ried Yet Speaking
Isabella Alden
I am not astonished, therefore, that I am not so well this month as last.
The Imaginary Invalid
Molire
They were astonished and full of their surprise when their father came to his dinner.
Rico and Wiseli
Johanna Spyri
He was so astonished at what he saw that he slid behind the open door out of sight.
In the Midst of Alarms
Robert Barr

British Dictionary definitions for astonished

astonish

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 astonished

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.

No wonder is thogh that she were astoned [Chaucer, "Clerk's Tale"]

Related: Astonished; astonishing; astonishingly.