astonishment
/əˈstɑːnɪʃmənt/
Word Rarity
Rare
Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.86 in modern English
17
Scrabble Score
12
Letters
4
Syllables
9
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
Loss of physical sensation; inability to move a part of the body.
Countable; Obsolete; Uncountable
Example Sentences
- "The class looked on in astonishment as their teacher proceeded to tear the pages out of the textbook."
- "1630, John Milton, “On Shakespear” in Poems of Mr. John Milton, London: Ruth Raworth, 1645 p. 27, Thou in our wonder and astonishment Hast built thy self a live-long Monument."
- "[…] he dismissed all his Attendants with a turn of his Finger; at which, to my great astonishment, they vanished in an Instant, like Visions in a Dream, when we awake on a sudden."
- "At these words, Marianne’s eyes expressed the astonishment, which her lips could not utter."
- "Marilla’s astonishment could not have been greater if Matthew had expressed a predilection for standing on his head."
- "Imagine my astonishment when, reaching the bustling street, every Englishwoman I look on is also attired in a dowdy housecoat."
Etymology
Etymology tree English astonish Proto-Indo-European *-mn̥ Proto-Indo-European *-mn̥tom Proto-Italic *-mentom Latin -mentum Old French -mentbor. Middle English -ment English -ment English astonishment From astonish + -ment.
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /əˈstɑːnɪʃmənt/
- British English: /əˈstɒnɪʃmənt/