Lexic.us

Definition of Astonish

1. Verb. Affect with wonder. "The performance is likely to astonish Sue"; "Your ability to speak six languages amazes me!"

Definition of Astonish

1. v. t. To stun; to render senseless, as by a blow.

Definition of Astonish

1. Verb. surprise, flabbergast ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Astonish

1. to fill with sudden wonder or surprise [v -ED, -ING, -ES]

Medical Definition of Astonish

1. 1. To stun; to render senseless, as by a blow. "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) Synonym: To amaze, astound, overwhelm, surprise. Astonished, Surprised. We are 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. See Amaze. Origin: OE. Astonien, astunian, astonen, OF. Estoner, F. Etonner, fr. L. Ex out + tonare to thunder, but perhaps influenced by E. Stun. See Thunder, Astound, Astony. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998)

Lexicographical Neighbors of Astonish

Literary usage of Astonish

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. A Select Glossary of English Words Used Formerly in Senses Different from by Richard Chenevix Trench (1865)
"The cramp-fish [the torpedo] knoweth her own force and power, and being herself not benumbed, is able to astonish others Id. Pliny, vol. ip 261. ..."

2. The Works of William Robertson ...: To which is Prefixed, an Account of His by William Robertson, Dugald Stewart (1817)
"... can express the Emperor's astonish- astonish- ment and consternation at events so unexpected. distress"* ^e saw a great number of the German Princes in ..."

3. The Life of Samuel Johnson, LL.D.: Including A Journal of a Tour to the by James Boswell, John Wilson Croker (1831)
"... whose extraordinary abilities, information, and magnanimity, astonish the world, would have afforded a noble subject for contemplation and record. ..."

4. United States Supreme Court Reports by Lawyers Co-operative Publishing Company, United States Supreme Court (1912)
"... would astonish no one more than the old inhabitants of the country, by whom the importance of obtaining a 'title' from the governor was well understood. ..."

5. John L. Stoddard's Lectures: Illustrated and Embellished with Views of the by John Lawson Stoddard (1897)
"His comrade, to astonish and console him, telegraphed from one of the post-houses where they had stopped for dimmer, to the American consul at Christiania. ..."

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