Main Entry:

as·ton·ish

Pronunciation:

\ə-ˈstä-nish\

Function:

transitive verb

Etymology:

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

Date:

circa 1534

1obsolete : to strike with sudden fear2: to strike with sudden and usually great wonder or surprise <was too astonished to speak>

synonyms see surprise