wonder

plural wonders · alternative pronunciation spelling wonda · alternative obsolete wondre

1. uncountableA sense of awe, astonishment and curiosity, inspired by unexpected events, novel experiences and inexplicable circumstances, sometimes accompanied by surprise, shock or reverence.

   All wonder is the effect of novelty upon ignorance.

   1781, Samuel Johnson, The Lives of the Most Eminent English Poets

   3 more examples

   And they knew that it was hee which ſate for almes at the beautifull gate of the Temple: and they were filled with wonder and amazement at that which had happened vnto him.

   1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Acts 3:10, column 1

   Socrates: I see, my dear Theaetetus, that Theodorus had a true insight into your nature when he said that you were a philosopher, for wonder is the feeling of a philosopher, and philosophy begins in wonder. He was not a bad genealogist who said that Iris (the messenger of heaven) is the child of Thaumas (wonder).

   1871, Plato, Benjamin Jowett (translator), Theaetetus (section 155d)

   Stuff your eyes with wonder […]live as if you'd drop dead in ten seconds. See the world. It's more fantastic than any dream made or paid for in factories.

   1953, Ray Bradbury, Fahrenheit 451

2. countableSomething that causes amazement or awe; a marvel.

   Wonders of the World seem to come in sevens.

   1 more example

   That concertina was a wonder in its way. The handles that was on it first was wore out long ago, and he'd made new ones of braided rope yarn. And the bellows was patched in more places than a cranberry picker's overalls.

   1913, Joseph C[rosby] Lincoln, chapter VIII, in Mr. Pratt’s Patients, New York, N.Y.; London: D[aniel] Appleton and Company, →OCLC

   1. countableuncountableFortunate circumstances.

      It's a wonder no-one saw me.

      1 more example

      That stay in the country did her wonders.

   2. countableuncountableAn astonishing and seemingly inexplicable turn of events.

      The idea was so ridiculous that it's a wonder anyone went along with it.

   3. countableuncountableA feat that demonstrates incredible finesse or skill, as if performed by magic.

      Given the limited resources, he's really performed wonders.

   4. countableuncountableSomeone very talented at something, a genius.

      He's a wonder at cooking.

   5. colloquialcountablesarcasticuncountablefollowing an adjective ending -less that typically has two syllablesA nominalizer that serves as a head noun for the preceding adjective, which together form a mocking or insulting epithet.

      So the voiceless wonder speaks at last.

      3 more examples

      Well, I wanted to tell the brainless wonder what I thought of him.

      1931 May 4, Freeman Gosden and Charles Correll, “episode 971”, in AAmos 'n' Andy, McFarland, →ISBN, page 65

      'Where is the cheating dickless wonder?'

      2010 June 3, Shari Low, Temptation Street, Hachette UK, →ISBN

      Well, the chinless wonder in question broke out through a snatch squad and evaded capture as neatly as any field op in the Network.

      2012 July 9, Charles Stross, The Apocalypse Codex: Book 4 in The Laundry Files, Hachette UK, →ISBN

      Synonyms: one

3. UKcountableinformalA mental pondering, a thought.

   Miss Paynter had a little wonder as to whether the man, as she called Mr. Lacy in her own mind, had ever been admitted to this room. She thought not.

   1934, Katharine Tynan, The house of dreams

4. UScountableA kind of donut; a cruller.

present singular third person wonders · participle present wondering · participle past wondered · past wondered · first person past singular wondered · archaic present second person singular wonderest · past second person singular wondered · archaic past second person singular wonderedst · present singular third person wonders · archaic present singular third person wondereth · past singular third person wondered · past plural wondered · past subjunctive wondered · participle present wondering · participle past wondered · alternative pronunciation spelling wonda

1. intransitiveTo be affected with surprise or admiration; to be struck with astonishment; to be amazed; to marvel; often followed by at.

   He's married by now, I shouldn't wonder.

   3 more examples

   […]I could not ſufficiently wonder at the Intrepidity of theſe diminutive Mortals,[…]

   1726 October 28, [Jonathan Swift], “The Author Gives Some Account of Himself and Family, His First Inducements to Travel. […]”, in Travels into Several Remote Nations of the World. […] [Gulliver’s Travels], volume I, London: […] Benj[amin] Motte, […], →OCLC, part I (A Voyage to Lilliput), pages 14–15

   Some had read the manuſcript, and rectified its inaccuracies; others had ſeen it in a ſtate ſo imperfect, that they could not forbear to wonder at its preſent excellence; […]

   1751 October 18 (Gregorian calendar), Samuel Johnson, “No. 163. Monday, October 8. 1751.”, in The Rambler, volume VII, Edinburgh: […] Sands, Murray, and Cochran; sold by W. Gordon, C. Wright, J. Yair, […], published 1752, →OCLC, page 35

   The Celebrity, by arts unknown, induced Mrs. Judge Short and two other ladies to call at Mohair on a certain afternoon when Mr. Cooke was trying a trotter on the track. The three returned wondering and charmed with Mrs. Cooke; they were sure she had had no hand in the furnishing of that atrocious house.

   1897 December (indicated as 1898), Winston Churchill, chapter IV, in The Celebrity: An Episode, New York, N.Y.: The Macmillan Company; London: Macmillan & Co., Ltd., →OCLC, page 58

2. intransitivetransitiveTo ponder; to feel doubt and curiosity; to query in the mind.

   Has Jay gone fishing, I wonder?

   4 more examples

   He wondered whether penguins could fly. She had wondered this herself sometimes.

   I was wondering what time the film was starting.

   I wonder in my Soule / What you would aske me, that I ſhould deny[…]

   c. 1603–1604 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Othello, the Moore of Venice”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene iii], page 323, column 1

   Topping it all off, The National Alliance is an expensive, professionally-produced newspaper that is distributed for free all over the place. One wonders: Where does their money come from? Who is supporting them?

   1988 December 4, John Kyper, “Avoid Friends Like The New Alliance Party”, in Gay Community News, volume 16, number 21, page 4

   Synonyms: ponder

plural Wonders

1. Any of the Wonders of the World.