astonishment

plural astonishments

1. countableuncountableThe feeling or experience of being astonished; great surprise.

   The class looked on in astonishment as their teacher proceeded to tear the pages out of the textbook.

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   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.

   1726 October 28, [Jonathan Swift], Travels into Several Remote Nations of the World. […] [Gulliver’s Travels], London: […] Benj[amin] Motte, […], →OCLC, (please specify |part=I to IV), page 98

   At these words, Marianne’s eyes expressed the astonishment, which her lips could not utter.

   1811, [Jane Austen], chapter 1, in Sense and Sensibility […], volume (please specify |volume=I to III), London: […] C[harles] Roworth, […], and published by T[homas] Egerton, […], →OCLC, page 14

   Marilla’s astonishment could not have been greater if Matthew had expressed a predilection for standing on his head.

   1908, Lucy Maud Montgomery, chapter 3, in Anne of Green Gables, Boston: L.C. Page, page 41

   Imagine my astonishment when, reaching the bustling street, every Englishwoman I look on is also attired in a dowdy housecoat.

   2004, Andrea Levy, chapter 33, in Small Island, London: Review, page 330

   Synonyms: amazement, stupefaction, wonder, wonderment

2. countableuncountableSomething very surprising.

   (colloquial)

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   To find Ned Silverton among the habitual frequenters of Mrs. Hatch’s drawing-room was one of Lily’s first astonishments;

   1905, Edith Wharton, The House of Mirth, New York: Scribner, Book 2, Chapter 9, p. 444

   Everything he had seen so far — the great chocolate river, the waterfall, the huge sucking pipes, the candy meadows, the Oompa-Loompas, the beautiful pink boat, and most of all, Mr. Willy Wonka himself — had been so astonishing that he began to wonder whether there could possibly be any more astonishments left.

   1964, Roald Dahl, chapter 18, in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Puffin, published 1998, page 83

   Synonyms: marvel, stunner

3. countableobsoleteuncountableLoss of physical sensation; inability to move a part of the body.

   […] there followeth astonishment of the leg that is neere, that it can neither be stretched out right, nor he cannot go on his feet.

   1583, Philip Barrough, The Method of Phisicke, London: Thomas Vautroullier, Book 3, Chapter 37, p. 126

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   […] whosoever maketh water in the same place where a dog hath newly pissed, so as both vrines be mingled together, shall immediatly find a coldnesse and astonishment in his loines,

   1601, C[aius] Plinius Secundus [i.e., Pliny the Elder], “[Book XXIX.] 5.”, in Philemon Holland, transl., The Historie of the World. Commonly Called, The Naturall Historie of C. Plinius Secundus. […], (please specify |tome=1 or 2), London: […] Adam Islip, →OCLC, page 363

   Synonyms: paralysis, numbness

4. countableobsoleteuncountableLoss of mental faculties, inability to think or use one's senses.

   Thou hast shewed thy people hard things: thou hast made us to drink the wine of astonishment.

   1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Psalms 60:3

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   Upon the Stage he so charmed the people into astonishment with his babble, that he made them buy off amain his Drugs;

   1678, Aphra Behn, chapter 2, in The Lives of Sundry Notorious Villains, London: for the author, page 30

   Synonyms: stupor

5. countableobsoleteuncountableLoss of composure or presence of mind.

   […] where of his cruell rage Nigh dead with feare, and faint astonishment, Shee found them both in darkesome corner pent;

   1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book I, Canto III”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC, pages 35-36

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   […] as when a man ignorant of the Ceremonies of Court, comming into the presence of a greater Person than he is used to speak to, and stumbling at his entrance, to save himselfe from falling, lets slip his Cloake; to recover his Cloake, lets fall his Hat; and with one disorder after another, discovers his astonishment and rusticity.

   1651, Thomas Hobbes, chapter 46, in Leviathan, London: Andrew Crooke, page 374

   Synonyms: consternation, dismay