wondrous
English
Etymology
From Middle English wondrous, alteration after the suffix -ous of Middle English wonders (“wondrous, wonderful”, adjective), from Old English wundres (“of wonder”), genitive singular of wundor (“wonder, miracle”), from Proto-Germanic *wundrą (“wonder”). Compare Dutch wonders, German Wunder.
Pronunciation
Adjective
wondrous (comparative more wondrous, superlative most wondrous)
- Wonderful; amazing, inspiring awe; marvelous.
- We all stared open-mouthed at the wondrous sight.
- c. 1610-11 William Shakespeare, The Tempest, Act II scene ii[1]:
- I'll show thee the best springs; I'll pluck thee berries;
- I'll fish for thee, and get thee wood enough.
- A plague upon the tyrant that I serve!
- I'll bear him no more sticks, but follow thee,
- Thou wondrous man.
Derived terms
Synonyms
Translations
amazing, inspiring awe
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Adverb
wondrous (comparative more wondrous, superlative most wondrous)
- In a wonderful degree; remarkably; wondrously.
- (Can we date this quote by Edmund Spenser and provide title, author’s full name, and other details?)
- And looking up he waxed wondrous woe.
- c. 1596-97 William Shakespeare, The Merchant of Venice, Act II scene viii[2]:
- […] And even there, his eye being big with tears,
- Turning his face, he put his hand behind him,
- And with affection wondrous sensible
- He [Antonio] wrung Bassanio's hand; and so they parted.
- XIX century, Emily Dickinson, As by the dead we love to sit:
- As by the dead we love to sit, / Become so wondrous dear — / As for the lost we grapple / Tho' all the rest are here […]
Translations
remarkably
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Categories:
- English terms inherited from Middle English
- English terms derived from Middle English
- English terms suffixed with -ous
- English terms inherited from Old English
- English terms derived from Old English
- English terms inherited from Proto-Germanic
- English terms derived from Proto-Germanic
- English 2-syllable words
- English terms with IPA pronunciation
- English lemmas
- English adjectives
- English terms with usage examples
- English adverbs
- Requests for date/Edmund Spenser