astonish
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as·ton·ish

transitive verb \ə-ˈstä-nish\

Definition of ASTONISH

1
obsolete : to strike with sudden fear
2
: to strike with sudden and usually great wonder or surprise <was too astonished to speak>

Examples of ASTONISH

  1. Despite the hype, there was nothing in the book to astonish readers.
  2. The garden's beauty never fails to astonish.

Origin of ASTONISH

probably from earlier astony (from Middle English astonen, astonien, from Anglo-French estoner to stun, from Vulgar Latin *extonare, from Latin ex- + tonare to thunder) + -ish (as in abolish) — more at thunder
First Known Use: circa 1534

Rhymes with ASTONISH

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