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astonishing

[uh-ston-i-shing]
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adjective
  1. causing astonishment or surprise; amazing: an astonishing victory; an astonishing remark.
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Origin of astonishing

First recorded in 1520–30; astonish + -ing2
Related formsas·ton·ish·ing·ly, adverbas·ton·ish·ing·ness, noun

astonish

[uh-ston-ish]
verb (used with object)
  1. 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
Related formsas·ton·ished·ly, adverbas·ton·ish·er, nounsu·per·as·ton·ish, verbun·as·ton·ished, adjective

Synonyms

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astound, startle, shock. See surprise.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words

startlingbreathtakingimpressivespectacularstrikingstaggeringastoundingamazingextraordinarystunningwonderfulmiraculouswondrousmarvelousbewilderingstupefyingstupendous

Examples from the Web for astonishing

Contemporary Examples

Historical Examples

  • Then with astonishing clearness he saw her hand resting against her breast.

  • There is one astonishing instance of this towards the end of the drama.

  • I am all impatience to hear how this astonishing change was effected.

    Lady Susan

    Jane Austen

  • It's astonishing how people forget the vital things, and remember trifles.

  • It was astonishing how quickly he blushed, how dark red his face became.

    The Dream

    Emile Zola

British Dictionary definitions for astonishing

astonishing

adjective
  1. causing great surprise or amazement; astounding
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Derived Formsastonishingly, adverb

astonish

verb
  1. (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 astonishing

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