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amazement - Wiktionary, the free dictionary

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary

From amaze +‎ -ment.

amazement (countable and uncountable, plural amazements)

  1. (uncountable) The condition of being amazed; a state of overwhelming wonder, as from surprise or sudden fear, horror, or admiration; astonishment.
  2. (countable, archaic) A particular feeling of wonder, surprise, fear, or horror.

    • 1682, Samuel Willard, The fiery tryal no strange thing, Boston: Samuel Sewell, page 16:

      Were believers thoroughly persuaded of what God meaneth, by these things, they would not be so liable to those frights and amazements which distract and disturb them.

    • 1791, “Character of the faithful Man”, in Aphorisms concerning the Assurance of Faith, Philadelphia: W. Young, page 60:

      In the midst of ill rumours and amazements, his countenance changeth not.

    • 1853, Charlotte Bronte, chapter 41, in Villette:

      Certain points, crises, certain feelings, joys, griefs and amazements, when reviewed, must strike us as things wildered and whirling.

  3. (countable, dated) Something which amazes.

    • 1913, Jack London, chapter 21, in The Valley of the Moon:

      So impossible did it seem that such an amazement of horse-flesh could ever be hers.

    • 1918, Christopher Morley, “The Urchin at the Zoo,”, in Mince Pie:

      I believe the Urchin showed more enthusiasm over the stone and the robin than over any of the amazements that succeeded them.

  4. (obsolete) Madness, frenzy.

the condition of being amazed; overwhelming wonder, as from surprise, sudden fear