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astonishes

 - 3 dictionary results

as⋅ton⋅ish

  [uh-ston-ish]
Use astonishes in a Sentence
–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

Related forms:
as⋅ton⋅ished⋅ly, adverb
as⋅ton⋅ish⋅er, noun

Synonyms:
astound, startle, shock. See surprise.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To astonishes
a·ston·ish   (ə-stŏn'ĭsh)   
tr.v.   as·ton·ished, as·ton·ish·ing, as·ton·ish·es
To fill with sudden wonder or amazement. See Synonyms at surprise.

[Alteration of Middle English astonen, from Old French estoner, from Vulgar Latin *extonāre : Latin ex-, ex- + Latin tonāre, to thunder; see (s)tenə- in Indo-European roots.]
a·ston'ish·ing·ly adv.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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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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