astonish
pronunciation
How to pronounce astonish in British English:
UK [əˈstɒnɪʃ]
How to pronounce astonish in American English:
US [əˈstɑːnɪʃ]
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- Verb:
- affect with wonder
Word Origin
- astonish (v.)
- c. 1300, astonien, from Old French estoner "to stun, daze, deafen, astound," from Vulgar Latin *extonare, from Latin ex- "out" + tonare "to thunder" (see thunder); so, literally "to leave someone thunderstruck." The modern form (influenced by English verbs in -ish, such as distinguish, diminish) is attested from c. 1530. No wonder is thogh that she were astoned [Chaucer, "Clerk's Tale"] Related: Astonished; astonishing; astonishingly.
Example
- 1. But it seemed that for ordinary people to suggest improvements to their own community merely served to astonish the police .
- 2. They play a couple in prosperous suburban america who yearn for something more in their lives , and astonish their neighbours with a plan to move to paris .
- 3. If viewers cast aside their hostility , what may astonish is mr hirst 's ability to transform dry conceptual art into witty , emotionally engaging work .