marvel

plural marvels · alternative marvail · alternative marvell

1. That which causes wonder; a prodigy; a portent.

   The mysteries of this wonderful universe rise more palpable upon the departing spirit, so soon to mingle with their marvels.

   1834, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], chapter XXIV, in Francesca Carrara. […], volume II, London: Richard Bentley, […], (successor to Henry Colburn), →OCLC, page 261

   1 more example

   He found ways to film fiery, elaborate car-wrecks, keeping everything visually clear and beautiful without killing or even seriously injuring anyone. On a sheer technical level, the movie is a marvel.

   2017 December 1, Tom Breihan, “Mad Max: Fury Road might already be the best action movie ever made”, in The Onion AV Club

   Synonyms: lollapalooza

2. archaicWonder, astonishment.

   Use lessens marvel.

   1805, Walter Scott, “(please specify the page)”, in The Lay of the Last Minstrel: A Poem, London: […] [James Ballantyne] for Longman, Hurst, Rees, and Orme, […], and A[rchibald] Constable and Co., […], →OCLC

   2 more examples

   No maruel though you bite so sharp at reasons,

   c. 1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Troylus and Cressida”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene ii]

   You read not any where that Eſau had faith, no not ſo much as a little: Therefore no marvel, if where, the fleſh only bears ſway […]

   1678, John Bunyan, The Pilgrim’s Progress from This World, to That which is to Come: […], London: […] Nath[aniel] Ponder […], →OCLC, page 171

present singular third person marvels · US participle present marveling · UK participle present marvelling · US participle past marveled · US past marveled · UK participle past marvelled · UK past marvelled · alternative marvail · alternative marvell

1. intransitiveTo become filled with wonderment or admiration; to be amazed at something.

   Marueile not, my brethren, if the world hate you.

   1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, 1 John 3:13, column 1

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   Men marvel at the works of man / And with unstinted praises sing / The greatness of some worldly thing / Encompassed during one life's span;

   1923, Robert Louis Stevenson, “Men marvel at the works of man”, in The Complete Poems of Robert Louis Stevenson, New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, page 466

   The ads show tourists hiking with a selfie stick, (“Very nice!”), drinking fermented horse milk (“Mm, that’s actually very nice!”), marvelling at the architecture (“Wow, very nice!”) and posing for a photograph with Kazakhs in traditional dress (“That’s very nice!”).

   2020 October 27, Helen Sullivan, “'Very nice!': Kazakhstan adopts Borat's catchphrase in new tourism campaign”, in The Guardian, →ISSN

   If Cleopatra or Elizabeth I were to time-travel to the present day, they would marvel at a world we take for granted, with its vaccines and antibiotics, and a flushing toilet and fridge in every home.

   2021 June 25, Richard Fisher, “Generational amnesia: The memory loss that harms the planet”, in BBC News

2. obsoletetransitiveTo wonder at.

   I maruell why I answer'd not againe,

   c. 1598–1600 (date written), William Shakespeare, “As You Like It”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene v], page 200

   1 more example

   I maruell that her Grace did leaue it out.

   c. 1593 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedy of Richard the Third: […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene ii], page 184

3. obsoletetransitiveTo cause to wonder or be surprised.

   15th century, Anonymous, Richard the Redeless But much now me marvelleth.

plural Marvels

1. A surname.

1. abbreviationellipsiscomicsEllipsis of Marvel Comics.
2. abbreviationellipsisbroadcastingEllipsis of Marvel Studios.

   There’s the Thor fly in tribute of the God of Thunder, played in Marvel by Chris Hemsworth. Its scientific name is “Daptolestes bronteflavus,” which is derived from Latin like most scientific names – and translates to “blond thunder.”

   2020 July 29, Jessie Yeung, “Australia names new species after Deadpool, Thor, and other Marvel favorites”, in CNN

3. abbreviationclippingfictionClipping of Marvelverse