English Explanatory Dictionary

astonish

English dictionary entry

Meanings

verb
  1. To surprise greatly.

Pronunciation

/əˈstɒnɪʃ/ /əˈstɑnɪʃ/ En-us-astonish.oga

Word forms

astonish astonishes astonishing astonished

Etymology

Probably an alteration (due to words ending in -ish: abolish, banish, cherish, establish, furnish, etc.) of earlier astony, astone, astun (“to astonish, stun”), from Middle English astoneyen, astonen (“to stun, astonish”), variant of stonen, stoneyen (“to stun, astonish”) prefixed with a-. However, compare Old French estonir, a rare variant of estoner (“to stun, astonish”).

Synonyms

astound flabbergast surprise astony

Derived words

astonishable astonished astonishedly astonisher astonishing astonishment astonisht reastonish
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