wonder

[wuhn-der] /ˈwʌn dər/
verb (used without object)
1.
to think or speculate curiously:
to wonder about the origin of the solar system.
2.
to be filled with admiration, amazement, or awe; marvel (often followed by at):
He wondered at her composure in such a crisis.
3.
to doubt:
I wonder if she'll really get here.
verb (used with object)
4.
to speculate curiously or be curious about; be curious to know:
to wonder what happened.
5.
to feel wonder at:
I wonder that you went.
noun
6.
something strange and surprising; a cause of surprise, astonishment, or admiration:
That building is a wonder. It is a wonder he declined such an offer.
7.
the emotion excited by what is strange and surprising; a feeling of surprised or puzzled interest, sometimes tinged with admiration:
He felt wonder at seeing the Grand Canyon.
8.
miraculous deed or event; remarkable phenomenon.
Idioms
9.
for a wonder, as the reverse of what might be expected; surprisingly:
For a wonder, they worked hard all day.
Origin
before 900; (noun) Middle English; Old English wundor; cognate with Dutch wonder, German Wunder, Old Norse undr; (v.) Middle English wonderen, Old English wundrian, derivative of the noun
Related forms
wonderer, noun
wonderless, adjective
Synonyms
1. conjecture, meditate, ponder, question. 5. marvel. 7. surprise, astonishment, amazement, bewilderment, awe.
British Dictionary definitions for for a wonder

wonder

/ˈwʌndə/
noun
1.
the feeling excited by something strange; a mixture of surprise, curiosity, and sometimes awe
2.
something that causes such a feeling, such as a miracle
3.
See Seven Wonders of the World
4.
(modifier) exciting wonder by virtue of spectacular results achieved, feats performed, etc: a wonder drug, a wonder horse
5.
do wonders, work wonders, to achieve spectacularly fine results
6.
for a wonder, surprisingly or amazingly
7.
nine days' wonder, a subject that arouses general surprise or public interest for a short time
8.
(sentence connector) no wonder, (I am) not surprised at all (that): no wonder he couldn't come
9.
(sentence connector) small wonder, (I am) hardly surprised (that): small wonder he couldn't make it tonight
verb (when transitive, may take a clause as object)
10.
when intr, often foll by about. to indulge in speculative inquiry, often accompanied by an element of doubt (concerning something): I wondered about what she said, I wonder what happened
11.
when intr, often foll by at. to be amazed (at something): I wonder at your impudence
Derived Forms
wonderer, noun
wonderless, adjective
Word Origin
Old English wundor; related to Old Saxon wundar, Old Norse undr, German Wunder

Wonder

/ˈwʌndə/
noun
1.
Stevie. real name Steveland Judkins Morris. born 1950, US Motown singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist. His recordings include Up-Tight (1966), "Superstition" (1972), Innervisions (1973), Songs in the Key of Life (1976), and "I Just Called to Say I Love You" (1985)
Word Origin and History for for a wonder

wonder

n.

Old English wundor "marvelous thing, marvel, the object of astonishment," from Proto-Germanic *wundran (cf. Old Saxon wundar, Middle Dutch, Dutch wonder, Old High German wuntar, German wunder, Old Norse undr), of unknown origin. In Middle English it also came to mean the emotion associated with such a sight (late 13c.). The verb is from Old English wundrian. Used colloquially in Pennsylvania German areas in some transitive senses (It wonders me that ... for "I wonder why ..."); this was common in Middle English and as late as Tindale (1533), and a correspondent reports the usage also yet survives in Yorkshire/Lincolnshire. Related: Wondered, wondering, wonders.

Slang definitions & phrases for for a wonder

wonder

Related Terms

nine-days' wonder, ninety-day wonder


Related Abbreviations for for a wonder

WONDER

Wide-ranging Online Data for Epidemiologic Research
Idioms and Phrases with for a wonder

for a wonder

Surprisingly, strange to say, as in For a wonder he didn't argue with the waiter about the bill. [ Late 1700s ]

wonder

In addition to the idiom beginning with
wonder
also see: