▪ I. amazing, vbl. n.
(əˈmeɪzɪŋ)
[f. amaze v. + -ing1.]
The action of causing amazement. (Now only gerundial.)
| 1530 Palsgr. 194/1 Amasynge, stupefaction. 1580 Hollyband Treas. Fr. Tong., Effray, or effroy, feare, astonying, abashing, amasing. 1597 T. Morley Introd. Mus. 156 To the amasing of the young singer. a 1617 Hieron Wks. I. 16 To the appalling and amasing of a Christian. 1674 Coles, An Amazing, Stupefactio, consternatio. Mod. After so amazing friends and foes. |
▪ II. amazing, ppl. a.
(əˈmeɪzɪŋ)
[f. as prec. + -ing2.]
† 1. Causing distraction, consternation, confusion, dismay; stupefying, terrifying, dreadful. Obs.
| 1593 Shakes. Rich. II, i. iii. 81 Let thy blowes..Fall like amazing thunder on the Caske Of thy amaz'd, pernicious enemy. 1659 Hammond On Ps. cvii. 23–30 They meet with terrible amazing tempests. 1705 Stanhope Paraphr. III. 542 The amazing Prospects of an angry God and a gaping Hell. 1781 Gibbon Decl. & Fall III. 93 A dreadful and amazing prodigy. |
2. Astounding, astonishing, wonderful, great beyond expectation.
| 1704 J. Trapp Abra-Mulé v. i. 1981 Such amazing Generosity Exceeds Belief. 1717 Lady M. Montague Lett. II. xlvi. 37 To turn round with an amazing swiftness. 1769 Burke State Nat. Wks. II. 85 The author's amazing assertion. 1822 J. Imison Sc. & Art I. 4 To observe to what an amazing extent the actual division of matter may be carried. 1849 Macaulay Hist. Eng. I. 335 Great as has been the change in the rural life of England since the Revolution, the change..in the cities is still more amazing. |
3. quasi-adv. Wonderfully, astonishingly.
| 1824 W. Irving T. Trav. I. 54 All of whom laughed, and took it in amazing good part. |