wonder
see also: Wonder
Pronunciation
  • (RP) IPA: /ˈwʌndə/
  • (America) IPA: /ˈwʌndɚ/
Noun

wonder

  1. Something that causes amazement or awe; a marvel.
    Wonders of the World seem to come in sevens.
  2. Something astonishing and seemingly inexplicable.
    The idea was so crazy that it is a wonder that anyone went along with it.
  3. Someone very talented at something, a genius.
    He's a wonder at cooking.
  4. The sense or emotion which can be inspired by something curious or unknown; surprise; astonishment, often with awe or reverence.
    • , Theaetetus (dialogue) (section 155d)
      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).
    • Bible, Acts of the Apostles iii. 10
      They were filled with wonder and amazement at that which had happened unto him.
    • 1781, Samuel Johnson, The Lives of the Most Eminent English Poets
      All wonder is the effect of novelty upon ignorance.
  5. (UK, informal) A mental pondering, a thought.
  6. (US) A kind of donut; a cruller.
Translations Translations Translations Translations Verb

wonder (wonders, present participle wondering; past and past participle wondered)

  1. (intransitive) To be affected with surprise or admiration; to be struck with astonishment; to be amazed; to marvel; often followed by at.
    • 1726 October 27, [Jonathan Swift], Travels into Several Remote Nations of the World. In Four Parts. […] [Gulliver’s Travels], London: Printed for Benj[amin] Motte, […], OCLC 995220039 ↗, (please specify ):
      I could not sufficiently wonder at the intrepidity of these diminutive mortals.
    • We cease to wonder at what we understand.
  2. (transitive, intransitive) To ponder; to feel doubt and curiosity; to query in the mind.
    • c. 1603–1604, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Othello, the Moore of Venice”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies: Published According to the True Originall Copies (First Folio), London: Printed by Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, OCLC 606515358 ↗, [Act III, scene iii]:
      I wonder, in my soul, / What you would ask me, that I should deny.
    He wondered whether penguins could fly. She had wondered this herself sometimes.
Conjugation