ˈwonder-ˌwork
[OE. wundorweorc = WFris. wonderwirk, MHG. wunderwerc (G. -werk), MDa. underværk, etc., f. wonder n. + work n. In ME. treated as two words (cf. wonder a.); in the modern period, a new formation.]
1. A marvellous or miraculous act; = miracle 1. Also gen. a wonderful achievement.
| 971 Blickl. Hom. 161 Hie..wundorweorcum swiþe wuldorlice ascinon. a 1000 Andreas 705 Swylce he [sc. Christ] oðerra unrim cyðde wundorworca on wera ᵹesyhðe. 13.. Evang. Nicod. 39 in Herrig Archiv LIII. 392 Þan wirkes he wonder werkes new. 13.. Cursor M. 1529 (Gött.) Þai þat þir wonþer werkes wroght. c 1375 Sc. Leg. Saints xxvii. (Machar) 30 In þis land we ken hym nocht, Quhare he wondir werkis wrocht. 1570 Dee Math. Pref. A j, By sundry meanes, this Wonderworke is wrought. |
| 1846 Trench Mirac. 60 While the Christians,..on account of a few insignificant wonder-works, proclaim their Jesus for a god. 1889 Jas. Gibbons Our Chr. Heritage 242 Saint John referring to the wonder-works of Christ. |
2. A wonderful work or structure.
| c 1275 Lay. 17376 Þo gonnen hii wende..to þan hulle..war stod þat wonder worc. 1387 Trevisa Higden (Rolls) VI. 275 He bygan to bulde Seynt Albons his grete chirche from the foundement of a wonder werk of brend tyle. |
| 1816 Byron Ch. Har. iii. x, Fit speculation; such as..He found in wonder-works of God and Nature's hand. 1887 Wallies Throne of Fisherman 150 Forums which should surpass Trajan's wonderwork. 1895 Outing (U.S.) XXVII. 238/1 These wonder works of the sea are broken..into the most fantastic forms. 1904 Westm. Gaz. 22 Oct. 2/3 The hotel is, like everything else here, a wonder-work. |
3. Marvellous work or workmanship.
| a 1513 Fabyan Chron. v. cxxxiii. (1811) 116 A beer of wonder warke, standith..ouer y{supt} graue. |
| 1863 Pilgrimage over Prairies II. 265 Impassive spirits..whom the daily wonderwork of nature, her glorious displays of the solemn, the lovely and the wild, seem never..to affect. 1883 in Spurgeon Treas. Dav. Ps. cxxxvi. 4 God was alone in the wonderwork of Creation. |