wondrous
/ˈwʌndrəs/
adjective
Origin
Old English
wundor — marvel, miracle, object of astonishment
Overview
Meaning Now
- Inspiring a feeling of wonder or delight; marvelous.
- Remarkable or impressive in nature or degree.
Literal older meaning
full of wonder
Language path
Proto-Germanic → Old English → Middle English → English
Earliest form
wondrous
Earliest period
14th century
Journey
The word stems from the Old English 'wundor', which carried a sense of religious or supernatural awe. Over time, 'wondrous' evolved to describe not just the supernatural, but anything that inspires profound admiration or astonishment.
Evolution
- Proto-Germanic
*wundran-
“marvel, miracle”
- Old English
wundor
“marvel, miracle”
- Middle English
wondren
“to marvel, be astonished”
- Middle English
wondrous
“marvelous, astonishing”
Addition of the suffix -ous (from Old French -os) to the noun wonder.
Connections
Word parts
wonder
root
marvel or astonishment
-ous
suffix
possessing the quality of
Related across languages
German
Wunder
miracle, wonder
Dutch
miracle, wonder
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