merveillier

to wonder at, be astonished

1 / 1

Young Black woman looks up in astonishment at a huge dinosaur skeleton in museum.

noun / verb

marvel

MAR-vul/mˈɑrvʌl/

Something extraordinary that inspires wonder, or admiration felt for it.

Etymology

marvelOld Frenchto wonder at, be astonished

Old French merveillier meant to be filled with wonder and came from a noun meaning a wonder or miracle. The English verb names the astonished response rather than the thing provoking it.

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Related word entries

marvel