Astonishment

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Astonishment \As*ton"ish*ment\, n. [Cf. OF. estonnement, F.
     ['e]tonnement.]
     1. The condition of one who is stunned. Hence: Numbness; loss
        of sensation; stupor; loss of sense. [Obs.]
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              A coldness and astonishment in his loins, as folk
              say.                                  --Holland.
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     2. Dismay; consternation. [Archaic] --Spenser.
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     3. The overpowering emotion excited when something
        unaccountable, wonderful, or dreadful is presented to the
        mind; an intense degree of surprise; amazement.
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              Lest the place
              And my quaint habits breed astonishment. --Milton.
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     4. The object causing such an emotion.
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              Thou shalt become an astonishment.    --Deut.
                                                    xxviii. 37.
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     Syn: Amazement; wonder; surprise.
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From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  astonishment
       n : the feeling that accompanies something extremely surprising;
           "he looked at me in astonishment" [syn: {amazement}]