astonish Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. verb affect with wonder
    amaze; astound.
    • Your ability to speak six languages amazes me!

WordNet

As*ton"ish transitive verb
Etymology
OE. astonien, astunian, astonen, OF. estoner, F. étonner, fr. L. ex out + tonare to thunder, but perhaps influenced by E. stun. See Thunder, Astound, Astony.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Astonished present participle & verbal noun Astonishing
Definitions
  1. To stun; to render senseless, as by a blow. Obs.
    Enough, captain; you have astonished him. [Fluellen had struck Pistol]. Shak.
    The very cramp-fish [i. e., torpedo] . . . being herself not benumbed, is able to astonish others. Holland.
  2. To strike with sudden fear, terror, or wonder; to amaze; to surprise greatly, as with something unaccountable; to confound with some sudden emotion or passion.
    Musidorus . . . had his wits astonished with sorrow. Sidney.
    I, Daniel . . . was astonished at the vision. Dan. viii. 27.
    Syn. -- To amaze; astound; overwhelm; surprise. -- Astonished, Surprised. We are surprised at what is unexpected. We are astonished at what is above or beyond our comprehension. We are taken by surprise. We are struck with astonishment. C. J. Smith. See Amaze.

Webster 1913