wonder English · revision 3043

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=c. 700|origins=gem-pro *wundrą}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /ˈwʌn.də/, US /ˈwʌn.dɚ/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|wonder]], wunder,^(MWU 2024)^(Barnhart 1988) [[inh|ang|wundor|t=a strange or marvellous thing, a supernatural event, an object of astonishment]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) from [[gem-pro|*wundrą]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) the source also of Old Saxon wundar, Dutch wonder, Old High German wuntar (German Wunder) and Old Norse undr,^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) a word of unknown origin.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986)^(NODE 1998) The verb is [[inh|enm|wondren]], from Old English wundrian “to be astonished; to admire”, from the noun.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Old English wundor, “a marvellous thing”, is found about 700,^(OED 1989) and about 725 in ''Beowulf'';^(Barnhart 1988) the verb wundrian is from before 899.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ By late Old English the noun meant also “a cause of perplexity, a conundrum”, and ''no wonder'', “no surprise”, is found already then.^(Etymonline) A miracle is a wonder from about 950.^(OED 1989) In Middle English it came to mean the emotion itself, amazement or reverential awe at something extraordinary, from the late 13th century,^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) and a spectacle by the mid-14th century.^(Etymonline) The verb's sense “to be curious, to speculate”, as in ''I wonder'', is attested by late Old English.^(Etymonline) Reflexive ''I wonder me'' was common in Middle English and lasted until Tyndale (1533), and ''it wonders me'' is attested by the 1550s.^(Etymonline) A ''nine days' wonder'' is from the 1590s;^(Etymonline) Chaucer has nine-nights wonder.^(Etymonline) ''Wonderful'' is from before 1100,^(Barnhart 1988) ''wonderment'' from 1535,^(Barnhart 1988) and ''wonderland'' from 1790.^(Barnhart 1988) ''Wonder drug'' is from 1939.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 700 – a marvel.^(OED 1989)

+ * before 899 – verb, to marvel.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 950 – a miracle.^(OED 1989)

+ * before 1100 – ''wonderful''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * late 13th century – the feeling of amazement.^(Etymonline)

+ * mid-14th century – a spectacle.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1590s – ''nine days' wonder''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1790 – ''wonderland''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1939 – ''wonder drug''.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A feeling of [[amazement]] and admiration caused by something beautiful, remarkable or unfamiliar.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # Something that causes such a feeling; a marvel: ''the seven wonders of the world''.^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+ # A [[miracle]]; an event that cannot be explained by natural laws.^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+ # A person of remarkable ability: ''a boy wonder''.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To feel curiosity or doubt; to want to know: ''I wonder why''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # To feel amazement or admiration; to [[marvel]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # To be surprised.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Having remarkable qualities or success: ''a wonder drug''.^(MW Collegiate)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[wonderer]]

+ * [[wonderless]]

+ * [[wonderberry]]

+ * [[wonderful]]

+ * [[wonderland]]

+ * [[wonderment]]

+ * [[wondrous]]

+ * [[wonderwork]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Scots kept ''wonder'' as an adverb, “wondrously, very”, long after it was lost elsewhere.^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}