admiration

plural admirations

1. countableuncountableA positive emotion combining wonder and approbation; the regarding of another as being wonderful; a feeling of respect for another's skills or attributes, as one might look on a hero or role model.

   admiration of a war hero

   5 more examples

   They looked at the landscape in admiration.

   For in this Instance, Life most exactly resembles the Stage, since it is often the same Person who represents the Villain and the Heroe; and he who engages your Admiration To-day, will probably attract your Contempt To-Morrow.

   1749, Henry Fielding, chapter 1, in The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling, volume (please specify |volume=I to VI), London: A[ndrew] Millar, […], →OCLC, book VII, pages 4-5

   A lady’s imagination is very rapid; it jumps from admiration to love, from love to matrimony in a moment.

   1813 January 27, [Jane Austen], chapter 6, in Pride and Prejudice: […], volume (please specify |volume=I to III), London: […] [George Sidney] for T[homas] Egerton, […], →OCLC

   You only had my interest before. Now you have my admiration.

   1932, Jules Furthman, Shanghai Express, spoken by Henry Chang (Warner Oland)

   Dr. Veraswami had a passionate admiration for the English, which a thousand snubs from Englishmen had not shaken.

   1934 October, George Orwell [pseudonym; Eric Arthur Blair], chapter 3, in Burmese Days, New York, N.Y.: Harper & Brothers, Publishers, →OCLC

   Synonyms: approval, appreciation, adoration, reverence, wonder, worship

2. countableobsoleteuncountableWondering or questioning (without any particular positive or negative attitude to the subject).

   […] Admiration seized All Heaven, what this might mean, and whither tend, Wondering;

   1667, John Milton, “Book III”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC, lines 270-272

   2 more examples

   Lear. Your name, fair gentlewoman? Goneril. This admiration, sir, is much o’ th’ savour Of other your new pranks.

   c. 1603–1606, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of King Lear”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene iv]

   And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration.

   1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Revelation 17:6

3. countableobsoleteuncountableCause of admiration; something to excite wonder, or pleased surprise.

   Now, good Lafeu, Bring in the admiration; that we with thee May spend our wonder too, or take off thine By wondering how thou took’st it.

   c. 1603–1606, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of King Lear”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act ALL'S WELL, scene ii], page 1