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astonisher

 - 2 dictionary results

as⋅ton⋅ish

[uh-ston-ish]
–verb (used with object)
to fill with sudden and overpowering surprise or wonder; amaze: Her easy humor and keen intellect astonished me.

Origin:
1525–35; ME astonyen, astonen, prob. < dial. OF *astoner, OF estoner < VL *extonāre, for L attonāre to strike with lightning, equiv. to ex- ex- 1 , at- at- + tonāre to thunder; extended by -ish 2 , perh. reflecting AF *astonir < dial. OF


as⋅ton⋅ished⋅ly, adverb
as⋅ton⋅ish⋅er, noun


astound, startle, shock. See surprise.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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Word Origin & History

astonish 
1340, astonien, from O.Fr. estoner "to stun," from V.L. *extonare, from L. ex- "out" + tonare "to thunder" (see thunder); so, lit. "to leave someone thunderstruck." The modern form (infl. by Eng. verbs in -ish, e.g. distinguish, diminish) is attested from c.1530.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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