astonish
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About Our Definitions: All forms of a word (noun, verb, etc.) are now displayed on one page.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
- Despite the hype, there was nothing in the book to astonish readers.
- 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
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