Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Wonder?

\Won"der\, n. [OE. wonder, wunder, AS. wundor; akin to D. wonder, OS. wundar, OHG. wuntar, G. wunder, Icel. undr, Sw. & Dan. under, and perhaps to Gr. ? to gaze at.] 1. 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. --Acts iii. 10. Wonder is the effect of novelty upon ignorance. --Johnson. 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. 2. A cause of wonder; that which excites surprise; a strange thing; a prodigy; a miracle. `` Babylon, the wonder of all tongues.'' --Milton. To try things oft, and never to give over, doth wonders. --Bacon. I am as a wonder unto many. --Ps. lxxi. 7. {Seven wonders of the world}. See in the Dictionary of Noted Names in Fiction.
\Won"der\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Wondered}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Wondering}.] [AS. wundrian.] 1. 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. --Swift. We cease to wonder at what we understand. --Johnson. 2. 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. --Shak.
\Won"der\, a. Wonderful. [Obs.] --Gower. After that he said a wonder thing. --Chaucer.
\Won"der\, adv. Wonderfully. [Obs.] --Chaucer.