astonishing

[ uh-ston-i-shing ]
/ əˈstɒn ɪ ʃɪŋ /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR astonishing ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

causing astonishment or surprise; amazing: an astonishing victory; an astonishing remark.

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DO YOU KNOW THIS VOCABULARY FROM "THE HANDMAID'S TALE"?

"The Handmaid's Tale" was required reading for many of us in school. Everyone else has probably watched the very popular and addictive TV show. Do you remember this vocabulary from the book, and do you know what these terms mean?
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decorum
the act of or need for making up one's mind.
dignified propriety of behavior, speech, dress, etc.
a company of singers, especially an organized group employed in church service.
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Origin of astonishing

First recorded in 1520–30; astonish + -ing2

OTHER WORDS FROM astonishing

as·ton·ish·ing·ly, adverbas·ton·ish·ing·ness, noun

Words nearby astonishing

astomia, aston, aston dark space, astonied, astonish, astonishing, astonishment, astor, astoria, astound, astounding

Definition for astonishing (2 of 2)

astonish
[ uh-ston-ish ]
/ əˈstɒn ɪʃ /

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

OTHER WORDS FROM astonish

as·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. 2020

Words related to astonishing

startling, breathtaking, impressive, spectacular, striking, staggering, astounding, amazing, extraordinary, stunning, wonderful, miraculous, wondrous, marvelous, bewildering, stupefying, stupendous

Example sentences from the Web for astonishing

British Dictionary definitions for astonishing (1 of 2)

astonishing
/ (əˈstɒnɪʃɪŋ) /

adjective

causing great surprise or amazement; astounding

Derived forms of astonishing

astonishingly, adverb

British Dictionary definitions for astonishing (2 of 2)

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