† ˈwonders, a. and adv. Obs.
Also 6 Sc. wounderis.
[gen. of wonder n.; a Scand. idiom: cf. MSw. unders, gen. of under wonder n. in unders miraculum, teken, thing marvel, miracle, prodigy. Cf. lives alive (life n. 15). See also wondrous.]
A. adj. = wondrous a.
| a 1300 Cursor M. 1529 Þaa þat þa wonders [Gött. wonþer] werkes wroght..Tua pilers þa mad. a 1500 Sir Beues 1469 (Chetham MS.) A wonders thinge [13.. MS. A. wonder-þing] ye may here. 1509 Hawes Past. Pleas. xxxvi. (1555) z ij b, It was a wonders case. c 1511 1st Engl. Bk. Amer. (Arb.) Introd. 29/1 Many dyuers maner and wonders bestes. c 1520 Skelton Magnyf. 89 A, ye be wonders men! c 1530 Ld. Berners Arth. Lyt. Bryt. xxxv. (1814) 111 Whan the duke sawe these thre knyghtes do suche wonders meruayles in armes..he was..dyspleased. 1602 W. Basse Three Past. Elegies i. (1893) 44 An Iuory boxe of wonders cost. |
B. adv. = wondrous adv.
| 1387–8 T. Usk Test. Love ii. iii. (Skeat) l. 45 Ye..let light of that thing whiche firste ye maked to you wonders dere. c 1395 Plowman's Tale 699 in Pol. Poems (Rolls) I. 324 These folkes be wonders stout. c 1520 Everyman 7 This matter is wonders precyous. 1551 Robinson tr. More's Utopia ii. (1895) 220 Hym they receyue and interteyne wonders gentyllye. 1567 Gude & Godlie B. (S.T.S.) 207 In danger of deith,..Do weill is harnessit, and wounderis bauld. ? a 1600 Dialogue in Verse in Marlowe's Wks. 1850 III. 304 But a' dances wonders well. |
Hence † ˈwondersly adv. wondrously.
| 1489 Skelton Dethe Erle Northumb. 193 Operlese Prince..! Which to thy resemblaunce wondersly hast wrought All mankynd. 1556 J. Heywood Spider & F. xiv. 5 Be ye sure it doth wondersly well. |