1.
[syn: amaze, astonish, astound]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Astonish \As*ton"ish\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Astonished; p. pr.
& vb. n. Astonishing.] [OE. astonien, astunian, astonen,
OF. estoner, F. ['e]tonner, fr. L. ex out + tonare to
thunder, but perhaps influenced by E. stun. See Thunder,
Astound, Astony.]
1. To stun; to render senseless, as by a blow. [Obs.]
[1913 Webster]
Enough, captain; you have astonished him. [Fluellen
had struck Pistol]. --Shak.
[1913 Webster]
The very cramp-fish [i. e., torpedo] . . . being
herself not benumbed, is able to astonish others.
--Holland.
[1913 Webster]
2. To strike with sudden fear, terror, or wonder; to amaze;
to surprise greatly, as with something unaccountable; to
confound with some sudden emotion or passion.
[1913 Webster]
Musidorus . . . had his wits astonished with sorrow.
--Sidney.
[1913 Webster]
I, Daniel . . . was astonished at the vision. --Dan.
viii. 27.
[1913 Webster]
Syn: To amaze; astound; overwhelm; surprise.
Usage: Astonished, Surprised. We are surprised at what is
unexpected. We are astonished at what is above or
beyond our comprehension. We are taken by surprise. We
are struck with astonishment. --C. J. Smith. See
Amaze.
[1913 Webster]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
astonish
v 1: affect with wonder; "Your ability to speak six languages
amazes me!" [syn: amaze, astonish, astound]