▪ I. astonishing, vbl. n.
(əˈstɒnɪʃɪŋ)
[f. as prec. + -ing1.]
† a. Deprivation of sensation; paralysis, benumbment. Obs. b. Dismaying. arch. c. Surprised wonder.
| 1530 Palsgr. 195/2 Astonysshing, estonnissement. 1563 T. Hill Arte Garden. (1593) 95 The cramp, the Apoplexie, the astonishing and the trembling of the members. 1597 Daniel Civ. Wares ii. lviii, He kneeles him downe with some astonishing. 1608 Hieron Wks. I. 712/1 To the astonishing and amazement of the mightie. 1820 Mair Tyro's Dict. (ed. 10) 6 Exanimatio, an astonishing, a disheartening. |
▪ II. aˈstonishing, ppl. a.
[f. as prec. + -ing2.]
† a. Stunning, benumbing, paralysing. Obs. † b. Stupefying, confounding, bewildering. Obs. c. Filling with wonder, surprising, wonderful.
| 1612 Woodall Surg. Mate Wks. 1653, 52 Them that have convulsions, or any astonishing disease. 1628 Earle Microcosm. vi. 15 Some astonishing bombast, which men only till they understand are scared with. 1690 Locke Hum. Und. §4 What incredible and astonishing actions do we find..tumblers bring their bodies to. 1712 Addison Spect. No. 315 ¶9 Circumstances that are both credible and astonishing. 1795 Burke Corr. (1844) IV. 296 It is an age of astonishing events. Nothing happens in the ordinary course. 1879 B. Taylor Germ. Lit. 64 The marvelous legendary growths which collect around certain names, have an astonishing vitality. |