wonder en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- (US) audio
- /ˈwɐndə/ (Australia, New-Zealand)
- /ˈwʊndə/ (Northern-England) without the foot-strut split
- /ˈwʌndə/ (Received-Pronunciation)
- /ˈwʌndɚ/ (General-American)
- [ˈwʌ̈ndɚ] ~ [ˈwʌ̈ndɹ̩] (General-American)
- [ˈwʌ̹ndə] (Received-Pronunciation)
- [ˈwɐ̞ndə] (Australia, New-Zealand)
- /ˈwʌndəɹ/ (Scotland)
- [ˈwʌndəɹ] (Scotland)
Etymology
From Middle English wonder, wunder, from Old English wundor (“wonder, miracle, marvel”), from Proto-West Germanic *wundr, from Proto-Germanic *wundrą. Cognate with Scots wunner (“wonder”), West Frisian wonder, wûnder (“wonder, miracle”), Dutch wonder (“miracle, wonder”), Low German wunner, wunder (“wonder”), German Wunder (“miracle, wonder”), Danish, Norwegian Bokmål, Norwegian Nynorsk, and Swedish under (“wonder, miracle”), Faroese and Icelandic undur (“wonder”). The verb is from Middle English wondren, from Old English wundrian, which is from Proto-Germanic *wundrōną. Cognate with Saterland Frisian wunnerje, West Frisian wûnderje, Dutch wonderen, German Low German wunnern, German wundern, Swedish undra, Icelandic undra. Via PIE cognate with English wish (see more).
Meanings
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(uncountable) A sense of awe, astonishment and curiosity, inspired by unexpected events, novel experiences and inexplicable circumstances, sometimes accompanied by surprise, shock or reverence.
All wonder is the effect of novelty upon ignorance.
1781, Samuel Johnson, The Lives of the Most Eminent English Poets:Socrates: I see, my dear Theaetetus, that Theodorus had a true insight into your nature when he said that you were a philosopher, for wonder is the feeling of a philosopher, and philosophy begins in wonder. He was not a bad genealogist who said that Iris (the messenger of heaven) is the child of Thaumas (wonder).
1871, Plato, Benjamin Jowett (translator), Theaetetus (section 155d)Stuff your eyes with wonder […]live as if you'd drop dead in ten seconds. See the world. It's more fantastic than any dream made or paid for in factories.
1953, Ray Bradbury, Fahrenheit 451:And they knew that it was hee which ſate for almes at the beautifull gate of the Temple: and they were filled with wonder and amazement at that which had happened vnto him.
1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Acts 3:10, column 1:
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(countable) Something that causes amazement or awe; a marvel.
That concertina was a wonder in its way. The handles that was on it first was wore out long ago, and he'd made new ones of braided rope yarn. And the bellows was patched in more places than a cranberry picker's overalls.
1913, Joseph C[rosby] Lincoln, chapter VIII, in Mr. Pratt’s Patients, New York, N.Y.; London: D[aniel] Appleton and Company, →OCLC:Wonders of the World seem to come in sevens.
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(countable, uncountable) Something that causes amazement or awe; a marvel. ▸ Fortunate circumstances.
That stay in the country did her wonders.
It's a wonder no-one saw me.
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(countable, uncountable) Something that causes amazement or awe; a marvel. ▸ An astonishing and seemingly inexplicable turn of events.
The idea was so ridiculous that it's a wonder anyone went along with it.
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(countable, uncountable) Something that causes amazement or awe; a marvel. ▸ A feat that demonstrates incredible finesse or skill, as if performed by magic.
Given the limited resources, he's really performed wonders.
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(countable, uncountable) Something that causes amazement or awe; a marvel. ▸ Someone very talented at something, a genius.
He's a wonder at cooking.
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(colloquial, countable, qualifier:following an adjective ending -less that typically has two syllables, sarcastic, uncountable) Something that causes amazement or awe; a marvel. ▸ A nominalizer that serves as a head noun for the preceding adjective, which together form a mocking or insulting epithet.
'Where is the cheating dickless wonder?'
2010 June 3, Shari Low, Temptation Street, Hachette UK, →ISBN:Well, I wanted to tell the brainless wonder what I thought of him.
1931 May 4, Freeman Gosden and Charles Correll, “episode 971”, in AAmos 'n' Andy, McFarland, →ISBN, page 65:So the voiceless wonder speaks at last.
Well, the chinless wonder in question broke out through a snatch squad and evaded capture as neatly as any field op in the Network.
2012 July 9, Charles Stross, The Apocalypse Codex: Book 4 in The Laundry Files, Hachette UK, →ISBN:
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(UK, countable, informal) A mental pondering, a thought.
Miss Paynter had a little wonder as to whether the man, as she called Mr. Lacy in her own mind, had ever been admitted to this room. She thought not.
1934, Katharine Tynan, The house of dreams:
- (US, countable) A kind of donut; a cruller.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| wondre | alternative, obsolete | lexicographic | |
| wonda | alternative, pronunciation-spelling | lexicographic | |
| wonders | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Deriveds
Wonder Woman · wonderfool · wondersome · wonder of the world · wonderbeast · one hit wonder · wonderment · wonder-striking · wondertard · wonderworker · ninety-day wonder · two-hit wonder · wonder-ship · work wonders · wonderous · no wonder · wonderbird · wonderberry · wonderdrug · wonderworld · wonderbra · wondrous · nine-day wonder · 90-day wonder · wondersuit · on a wonder · one-hit wonder · wonderwork · Wonderword · wonder-beast · wonderkid · golden wonder killifish · wonder glow · nine days' wonder · wonderchild · wonderless · bird of wonder · wondergirl · wondermonger · wonder bean · nine day wonder · wonderdog · no-hit wonder · wonderhood · witless wonder · wondershine · wonderful · wonderbook · boy wonder · 1der · wonder of wonders · wonderworthy · little wonder · wondersong · wonderboy · Wonderbra · wonderly · seven-day wonder · wonderglow · wonder-glow · wonderstruck · wondersmith · armless wonder · wonderland · wonder drug · wonderworking · wonderfuck · wonderweapon · wonder-bearing · small wonder · chinless wonder · wondership · girl wonder · nine days wonder · tiny wonder · gutless wonder · wondergoal · go wonder
Synonyms
Translations (188)
bg чудо (someone very talented at something, a genius) · mk чудо (something that causes amazement or awe, a marvel) · kix thǖngō (something astonishing and seemingly inexplicable) · es asombro (sense of awe, astonishment and curiosity) · da tænke (informal: thought) · gd mìorbhail (something astonishing and seemingly inexplicable) · ru чу́до (something that causes amazement or awe, a marvel) · da fundere (informal: thought) · tr deha (someone very talented at something, a genius) · nb underverk (something that causes amazement or awe, a marvel) · ja 驚異 (something that causes amazement or awe, a marvel) · cu дивъ (something that causes amazement or awe, a marvel) · ml വിസ്മയം (something that causes amazement or awe, a marvel) · ca meravella (something that causes amazement or awe, a marvel) · fi kummastus (sense of awe, astonishment and curiosity) · da vidunder (something astonishing and seemingly inexplicable) · ko 놀라움 (something that causes amazement or awe, a marvel) · bg удивление (sense of awe, astonishment and curiosity) · nds-de Wunner (something that causes amazement or awe, a marvel) · cs podivení (informal: thought) · ru удивле́ние (sense of awe, astonishment and curiosity) · sq thagmë (something that causes amazement or awe, a marvel) · tr mucize (something astonishing and seemingly inexplicable) · pt pensamento (informal: thought) · es maravilla (someone very talented at something, a genius) · cmn 驚奇 /惊奇 (sense of awe, astonishment and curiosity) · pl zdumienie (sense of awe, astonishment and curiosity) · oc meravilha (something that causes amazement or awe, a marvel) · la ingeniōsus (someone very talented at something, a genius) · nn under (something that causes amazement or awe, a marvel) · la formīdō (sense of awe, astonishment and curiosity) · da vidunder (something that causes amazement or awe, a marvel) · la incrēdibilis (something astonishing and seemingly inexplicable) · fi lahjakkuus (someone very talented at something, a genius) · gl marabilla (something astonishing and seemingly inexplicable) · hi चमत्कार (something astonishing and seemingly inexplicable) · da mirakel (something that causes amazement or awe, a marvel) · fr merveille (something that causes amazement or awe, a marvel) · az təəccüb (something that causes amazement or awe, a marvel) · be цуд (something that causes amazement or awe, a marvel) · gl marabilla (something that causes amazement or awe, a marvel) · el θαύμα (someone very talented at something, a genius) · fi kummallisuus (something astonishing and seemingly inexplicable) · cmn 奇跡 /奇迹 (something that causes amazement or awe, a marvel) · so yaab (something that causes amazement or awe, a marvel) · fi mestari (someone very talented at something, a genius) · hi विस्मय (sense of awe, astonishment and curiosity) · ml വിസ്മയം (sense of awe, astonishment and curiosity) · haw kāhāhā (something that causes amazement or awe, a marvel) · km អច្ឆរិយវត្ថុ (something that causes amazement or awe, a marvel) · es pasmo (sense of awe, astonishment and curiosity) · fa شگفتی (something that causes amazement or awe, a marvel) · grc θαῦμα (something astonishing and seemingly inexplicable) · es pensamiento (informal: thought) · la dubium (informal: thought) · se imaš (something astonishing and seemingly inexplicable) · fi kumma (something astonishing and seemingly inexplicable) · tl paghanga (something that causes amazement or awe, a marvel) · fi ihmetys (sense of awe, astonishment and curiosity) · da under (something that causes amazement or awe, a marvel) · uk дивува́ння (sense of awe, astonishment and curiosity) · ar عَجَب (something that causes amazement or awe, a marvel) · uk по́див (sense of awe, astonishment and curiosity) · es genio (someone very talented at something, a genius) · cs zázrak (something that causes amazement or awe, a marvel) · ga iontas (something that causes amazement or awe, a marvel) · hu -zseni (someone very talented at something, a genius) · ang wundor (something that causes amazement or awe, a marvel) · got 𐍄𐌰𐌹𐌺𐌽𐍃 (something that causes amazement or awe, a marvel) · el θαύμα (something that causes amazement or awe, a marvel) · bg чудо (something astonishing and seemingly inexplicable) · la volūtātiō (informal: thought) · sk zázrak (something that causes amazement or awe, a marvel) · ml അത്ഭുതം (something that causes amazement or awe, a marvel) · vec maraveja (something that causes amazement or awe, a marvel) · eo mirindaĵo (something that causes amazement or awe, a marvel) · es portento (something that causes amazement or awe, a marvel) · hi आश्चर्य (sense of awe, astonishment and curiosity) · cs div (something that causes amazement or awe, a marvel) · he פֶּלֶא (something that causes amazement or awe, a marvel) · cmn 敬畏 (sense of awe, astonishment and curiosity) · es milagro (something astonishing and seemingly inexplicable) · gl asombro (sense of awe, astonishment and curiosity) · ru чу́до (something astonishing and seemingly inexplicable) · sh čudo (something that causes amazement or awe, a marvel) · gl milagre (something astonishing and seemingly inexplicable) · sl čudež (something that causes amazement or awe, a marvel) · la mīrābilis (something that causes amazement or awe, a marvel) · sk div (something that causes amazement or awe, a marvel) · la peringeniōsus (someone very talented at something, a genius) · tr dâhi (someone very talented at something, a genius) · nb vidunder (something that causes amazement or awe, a marvel) · ota علامت (something astonishing and seemingly inexplicable) · el θαύμα (something astonishing and seemingly inexplicable) · fi ihme (someone very talented at something, a genius) · el ταλέντο (someone very talented at something, a genius) · bg чу́до (something that causes amazement or awe, a marvel) · ru ди́во (something that causes amazement or awe, a marvel) · eo miro (sense of awe, astonishment and curiosity) · gd mìorbhail (something that causes amazement or awe, a marvel) · tr harika (something that causes amazement or awe, a marvel) · fi ilmiö (someone very talented at something, a genius) · hu csoda (something that causes amazement or awe, a marvel) · fy wûnder (something that causes amazement or awe, a marvel) · el αστέρι (someone very talented at something, a genius) · ko 경이 (something that causes amazement or awe, a marvel) · pl dziwo (something astonishing and seemingly inexplicable) · uk ди́во (something that causes amazement or awe, a marvel) · da spekulere (informal: thought) · ro minune (something that causes amazement or awe, a marvel) · de Mirakel (something that causes amazement or awe, a marvel) · eo talento (someone very talented at something, a genius) · pl dziw (something that causes amazement or awe, a marvel) · hu csodálkozás (sense of awe, astonishment and curiosity) · nn underverk (something that causes amazement or awe, a marvel) · es maravilla (something astonishing and seemingly inexplicable) · ko 기인 (someone very talented at something, a genius) · is undur (something that causes amazement or awe, a marvel) · mi autaia (something that causes amazement or awe, a marvel) · nb under (something that causes amazement or awe, a marvel) · dbl (Jirribal) mali? (something that causes amazement or awe, a marvel) · ro minune (something astonishing and seemingly inexplicable) · ko 기적 (something astonishing and seemingly inexplicable) · got 𐍆𐌰𐌿𐍂𐌰𐍄𐌰𐌽𐌹 (something that causes amazement or awe, a marvel) · sv under (something that causes amazement or awe, a marvel) · pt maravilha (something astonishing and seemingly inexplicable) · uk здивува́ння (sense of awe, astonishment and curiosity) · el απορία (informal: thought) · cmn 奧妙 /奥妙 (something that causes amazement or awe, a marvel) · tr tansık (something astonishing and seemingly inexplicable) · pt maravilha (someone very talented at something, a genius) · sw maajabu (something that causes amazement or awe, a marvel) · lt stebuklas (something that causes amazement or awe, a marvel) · gl marabilla (someone very talented at something, a genius) · hi आश्चर्य (something that causes amazement or awe, a marvel) · be дзі́ва (something that causes amazement or awe, a marvel) · tt могҗиза (something that causes amazement or awe, a marvel) · hy հրաշք (something that causes amazement or awe, a marvel) · sh чудо (something that causes amazement or awe, a marvel) · fi fundeeraus (informal: thought) · sv mirakel (something that causes amazement or awe, a marvel) · fi ihme (something astonishing and seemingly inexplicable) · pl dziw (something astonishing and seemingly inexplicable) · nl wonder (something that causes amazement or awe, a marvel) · da under (something astonishing and seemingly inexplicable) · fo undur (something that causes amazement or awe, a marvel) · pt genial (someone very talented at something, a genius) · de Wunder (something that causes amazement or awe, a marvel) · ota معجزه (something astonishing and seemingly inexplicable) · mwl marabilha (something that causes amazement or awe, a marvel) · got 𐍃𐌹𐌻𐌳𐌰𐌻𐌴𐌹𐌺 (something that causes amazement or awe, a marvel) · tl henyo (someone very talented at something, a genius) · fi ihme (something that causes amazement or awe, a marvel) · la mīrāculum (something that causes amazement or awe, a marvel) · ro mirare (something that causes amazement or awe, a marvel) · hu csodálat (sense of awe, astonishment and curiosity) · nds-de Mirakel (something that causes amazement or awe, a marvel) · gv yindys (something astonishing and seemingly inexplicable) · sw maajabu (informal: thought) · ja 驚嘆 (sense of awe, astonishment and curiosity) · tl paghanga (something astonishing and seemingly inexplicable) · pl cud (something that causes amazement or awe, a marvel) · ota كرامت (something astonishing and seemingly inexplicable) · grc θαῦμα (sense of awe, astonishment and curiosity) · es maravilla (something that causes amazement or awe, a marvel) · ml വിസ്മയം (something astonishing and seemingly inexplicable) · tt могҗиза (something astonishing and seemingly inexplicable) · mg fahagagana (something that causes amazement or awe, a marvel) · grc θαῦμα (something that causes amazement or awe, a marvel) · gv yindys (something that causes amazement or awe, a marvel) · hu csoda- (someone very talented at something, a genius) · hu csoda (something astonishing and seemingly inexplicable) · se imaš (something that causes amazement or awe, a marvel) · km ឆ្ងល់ (something astonishing and seemingly inexplicable) · hy հրաշք (something astonishing and seemingly inexplicable) · ru интере́с (informal: thought) · pt maravilha (something that causes amazement or awe, a marvel) · ko 천재 (someone very talented at something, a genius) · it meraviglia (something that causes amazement or awe, a marvel) · cu чоудо (something that causes amazement or awe, a marvel) · ga ionadh (something that causes amazement or awe, a marvel) · fi ihmettely (informal: thought) · da vidunder- (someone very talented at something, a genius) · et ime (something that causes amazement or awe, a marvel) · uk чу́до (something that causes amazement or awe, a marvel) · cmn 天才 (someone very talented at something, a genius) · is snillingur (someone very talented at something, a genius) · sl tuhtanje (informal: thought)