astonish

verb as·ton·ish \ə-ˈstä-nish\

: to cause a feeling of great wonder or surprise in (someone)

Full Definition of ASTONISH

transitive verb

obsolete : to strike with sudden fear

: to strike with sudden and usually great wonder or surprise <was too astonished to speak>

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Origin of ASTONISH

probably from earlier astony (from Middle English astonen, astonien, from Anglo-French estoner to stun, from Vulgar Latin *extonare, from Latin ex- + tonare to thunder) + -ish (as in abolish) — more at thunder

First Known Use: circa 1534

Related to ASTONISH

Synonyms: amaze, surprise, astound, bowl over, dumbfound (also dumfound), flabbergast, floor, rock, shock, startle, stun, stupefy, thunderstrike

Synonym Discussion of ASTONISH

surprise, astonish, astound, amaze, flabbergast mean to impress forcibly through unexpectedness. surprise stresses causing an effect through being unexpected but not necessarily unusual or novel <surprised to find them at home>. astonish implies surprising so greatly as to seem incredible <a discovery that astonished the world>. astound stresses the shock of astonishment <too astounded to respond>. amaze suggests an effect of bewilderment <amazed by the immense size of the place>. flabbergast may suggest thorough astonishment and bewilderment or dismay <flabbergasted by his angry refusal>.