astonish

• POS: Verb (transitive)
• HYPHEN: as=ton=ish

CIDE DICTIONARY

astonish, v. t. [OE. astonien, astunian, astonen, OF. estoner, F. étonner, fr. L. ex out + tonare to thunder, but perhaps influenced by E. stun. See Thunder, Astound, Astony.].

•  To stun; to render senseless, as by a blow.  [1913 Webster]

  "Enough, captain; you have astonished him. [Fluellen had struck Pistol]."  [1913 Webster]

  "The very cramp-fish [i. e., torpedo] . . . being herself not benumbed, is able to astonish others."  [1913 Webster]
•  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.  [1913 Webster]

  "Musidorus . . . had his wits astonished with sorrow."  [1913 Webster]

  "I, Daniel . . . was astonished at the vision."  [1913 Webster]

Syn. -- To amaze; astound; overwhelm; surprise.

OXFORD DICTIONARY

astonish, v.tr. amaze; surprise greatly.

Derivative

astonishing adj. astonishingly adv. astonishment n.

Etymology

obs. astone f. OF estoner f. Gallo-Roman: see -ISH(2)

THESAURUS

astonish

affright, alarm, amaze, ambush, astound, awe, awestrike, bedaze, bedazzle, bewilder, boggle, bowl down, bowl over, bushwhack, catch off-guard, catch unawares, come from behind, come upon unexpectedly, confound, daze, dazzle, do the unexpected, drop in on, dumbfound, dumbfounder, flabbergast, floor, overwhelm, paralyze, perplex, petrify, pounce upon, pull up short, shock, spring a surprise, spring upon, stagger, startle, strike dead, strike dumb, strike with wonder, stun, stupefy, surprise, take by surprise, take short, take unawares, terrify

ROGET THESAURUS

astonish

Wonder

VB wonder, marvel, admire, be surprised, start, stare, open one's eyes, rub one's eyes, turn up one's eyes, gloar, gape, open one's mouth, hold one's breath, look aghast, stand aghast, stand agog, look blank, tombe des nues, not believe one's eyes, not believe one's ears, not believe one's senses, not be able to account for, not know whether one stands on one's head or one's, surprise, astonish, amaze, astound, dumfound, dumfounder, startle, dazzle, daze, strike, strike with wonder, strike with awe, electrify, stun, stupefy, petrify, confound, bewilder, flabbergast, stagger, throw on one's beam ends, fascinate, turn the head, take away one's breath, strike dumb, make one's hair stand on end, make one's tongue cleave to the roof of one's mout, make one stare, take by surprise, be wonderful, beggar description, beggar the imagination, baffle description, stagger belief.

Inexpectation

VB not expect, be taken by surprise, start, miscalculate, not bargain for, come upon, fall upon, be unexpected, come unawares, turn up, pop, drop from the clouds, come upon one, burst upon one, flash upon one, bounce upon one, steal upon one, creep upon one, come like a thunder clap, burst like a thunderclap, thunder bolt, take by surprise, catch by surprise, catch unawares, catch napping, yach, pounce upon, spring a mine upon, surprise, startle, take aback, electrify, stun, stagger, take away one's breath, throw off one's guard, astonish, dumbfound.