aˈstonishment
[f. as prec. + -ment.]
† 1. Loss of physical sensation, insensibility; paralysis, numbness, deadness. Obs.
| 1576 Baker Gesner's Jewel Health 153 b, It avayleth also in the hote joynt aches..in causing an astonishment to those places. 1607 Topsell Four-f. Beasts 431 Those which are troubled with any deafness or astonishment in any part of their bodies. 1656 Ridgley Pract. Physic 234 There is astonishment of the Leg by compression of the Nerves. |
† b. ‘Setting on edge’ of the teeth. Obs.
| 1616 Surfl. & Markh. Countr. Farm 176 Purcelane eaten doth cure the roughnesse and astonishment of the teeth. |
† 2. Loss of sense or ‘wits’; being out of one's wits or at one's wits' end; mental prostration, stupor. wine of astonishment: stupefying wine. Obs.
| 1611 Bible Ps. lx. 3 To drinke the wine of astonishment [Genev. giddines]. 1667 Milton P.L. i. 316 If such astonishment as this can seize Eternal spirits. 1725 De Foe Voy. round World (1840) 271, I had a kind of astonishment upon me for a great while. |
3. Loss of presence of mind, coolness, or courage; dismay, consternation, dread. arch.
| a 1586 Sidney (J.) With no less wonder to us than astonishment to themselves. 1596 Spenser F.Q. v. iii. 26 They stricken were with great astonishment, And their faint hearts with senseless horror queld. 1733 Bailey Erasm. Colloq. (1877) 381 A man under an astonishment betwixt the hope of life and the fear of death. 1861 Alford in Life (1873) 339 Let not the astonishment of your present grief supersede your zeal for God's work. |
4. Mental disturbance or excitement due to the sudden presentation of anything unlooked for or unaccountable; wonder temporarily overpowering the mind; amazement.
| 1594 T. B. La Primaud. Fr. Acad. ii. 401 Epicures & Atheists, must needs be driuen into an astonishment at this. 1630 Milton On Shakespear, Thou in our wonder and astonishment Hast built thy selfe a livelong monument. 1712 Addison Spect. No. 412 ¶2 We are flung into pleasing astonishment at such unbounded views. 1798 Ferriar Illustr. Sterne i. 6 The splendid scenes beheld with astonishment by Europe. 1874 Black Pr. Thule 47 He looked at her for a moment in astonishment. |
5. An object of astonishment; a cause of sudden consternation or wonder.
| 1611 Bible Deut. xxviii. 37 Thou shalt become an astonishment, a prouerbe, and a by-worde. 1666 Perrinchief Serm. Westm. 7 Nov. 32 [It] makes his Memory an execration, and his Name an astonishment. 1792 T. Jefferson Writ. (1859) III. 459 Mr. Carmicheal's silence has been long my astonishment. |