WONDER • DICTIONARY ONE.COM • Definition of Wonder

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/wˈəndər/ Listen

verb

Wonder v. i. (past & past part. wondered; pres. part. wondering)

To be affected with surprise or admiration; to be struck with astonishment; to be amazed; to marvel. "I could not sufficiently wonder at the intrepidity of these diminutive mortals." "We cease to wonder at what we understand."

To feel doubt and curiosity; to wait with uncertain expectation; to query in the mind; as, he wondered why they came. "I wonder, in my soul, What you would ask me, that I should deny."

noun

Wonder n.

That emotion which is excited by novelty, or the presentation to the sight or mind of something new, unusual, strange, great, extraordinary, or not well understood; surprise; astonishment; admiration; amazement. "They were filled with wonder and amazement at that which had happened unto him." "Wonder is the effect of novelty upon ignorance." Note: Wonder expresses less than astonishment, and much less than amazement. It differs from admiration, as now used, in not being necessarily accompanied with love, esteem, or approbation.

A cause of wonder; that which excites surprise; a strange thing; a prodigy; a miracle. " Babylon, the wonder of all tongues." "To try things oft, and never to give over, doth wonders." "I am as a wonder unto many."

Seven wonders of the world. See in the Dictionary of Noted Names in Fiction.

adjective

Wonder adj. Wonderful. (Obs.) "After that he said a wonder thing."

adverb

Wonder adv. Wonderfully. (Obs.)

See images of 'Wonder'

Etymology of 'Wonder'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

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"Wonder" Quotes from Famous Books

... their eyes have all the same sparkle, the same dear light in them when the heart melts. I should know, for I have made love to every colour under the sun. Except Albino," he added reflectively and with the conscientious air of one who desires to tell the whole truth. "I wonder what it would be like to make love to an Albino. But now I shall never know, the fly must run round and round its glass until the day of the red blotch. It is a mercy I tasted the oil and vinegar in time. That disgusts you, ...

— The Justice of the King • Hamilton Drummond

... mark of the humane and peaceable man. Some, however, acquaint us, and among the rest Hermippus, that Lucurgus at first had no communication with Iphitus; but coming that way, and happening to be a spectator, he heard behind him a human voice (as he thought) which expressed some wonder and displeasure that he did not put his countrymen upon resorting to so great an assembly. He turned round immediately, to discover whence the voice came, and as there was no man to be seen, concluded it was from heaven. He joined Iphitus, therefore; and ...

— Ideal Commonwealths • Various

... and there keep him and let the cold air blow down his throat, while you count ten; then walk him aft, and when you are forward again, proceed as before.—Cold kills worms, my poor boy, not tobacco—I wonder that you are ...

— Peter Simple and The Three Cutters, Vol. 1-2 • Frederick Marryat

... foreseeing the dangers that were coming upon him, and that at present there were more plots against him than usual; for while she was the only person who persuaded her brother to put away the wife he now had, and to take the king's daughter, it was no wonder if she were hated by him. As she said this, and often tore her hair, and often beat her breast, her countenance made her denial to be believed; but the peverseness of her manners declared at the same time her dissimulation in these proceedings; but ...

— The Antiquities of the Jews • Flavius Josephus

... occurrences of the voyage. They appeared a little disconcerted, however, and looked very earnestly at me two or three times. At last they confessed they had forgotten me altogether! And, indeed, it was no wonder, for the sun had burned me nearly as black as my Indian friends, while my dress consisted of a blue capote, sadly singed by the fire; a straw hat, whose shape, from exposure and bad usage, was utterly indescribable; a pair of corduroys, and Indian moccasins; which so metamorphosed me, that my friends, ...

— Hudson Bay • R.M. Ballantyne

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