Middle English Dictionary Entry
wǒnder adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | wǒnder adj. Also vondere, (error) wurder; sup. wond(e)rest. |
| Etymology | From OE wundor (in combs. wundor-cræft, wundor-dǣd, wundor-weorc, etc.) & ME wǒnder n. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. merveil adj.
1.
(a) Extraordinary, phenomenal; unusual, strange; also, unnatural; also, tending to evoke a feeling of wonder; ~ wise, used adverbially: in a strange way;
(b) miraculous; magical, preternatural; also, pertaining to magic; on (a) ~ wise, miraculously.
Associated quotations
a
- c1300 Lay.Brut (Otho C.13)8673 : Þo gonnen hii wende and ferde to þan hulle…war stod þat wonder worc.
- c1330(c1250) Floris (Auch)275 : Þe Amerail is so wonder a gome Þat euerich ȝer hit is his wone To chesen him a newe wif.
- c1330(?c1300) Bevis (Auch)80/1527 : A wonder-þing now ȝe may here.
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)1873 : God…sendeþ þus his sond to socour us…so wonder a wilde best þat weldes no mynde.
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.2073 : Ther saugh I many another wonder storie, The which me list nat drawen to memorie.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)6.5 : A beere of a wonder werk is ȝit i-seie at Dorchestre above þe place of his firste grave.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)1.1132 : The Greks…Here Hors of Bras let faire dihte Which was to sen a wonder sihte.
- (a1398) Trev.Barth.(Add 27944:Seymour)167/9 : A goot bucke was iseye with hornes in þe þighes; Þis wondir schapinge and superfluites in membres falliþ generallich of þe superfluyte of matire.
- (a1398) Trev.Barth.(Add 27944:Seymour)1258/15 : Whanne sche is ystonge wiþ a grete flye, þanne sche [cow] rereþ vp hire taille in a wonder wise and starteleþ as sche were wood.
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)6630 : In Ethiope…frost and snow comeþ out of holes And brennande fire…Þat snow for þat fire ne melt…Þis is now a wonder þing.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)1.122 : Whan thise wikked went out, wonderwise þei fellen, Somme in eyre, somme in erthe & somme in helle depe.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.324 : Out of his hed his tethe echon arace, And thane sowe hem…Of whiche sede ther sprang a wonder corn: Knyȝtes armyd…Eueryche with other redy for to fyȝte.
- a1425(?c1350) Ywain (Glb E.9)267 : It was a wonder-wede, Þat þe cherle yn ȝede Nowther of wol ne of line.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)1.419 : What is this wondre maladie? For hote of cold, for cold of hote, I dye.
- (?1440) Palladius (DukeH d.2)5.91 : Basilicon is sowen in this mone…Now is hit whit, now rose…Hit ofte ysowe ek maketh wonder chaunge.
- a1450 7 Sages(3) (Cmb Dd.1.17)2643 : Telle me of that cas; Hyt hys the wonderest that ever I herde.
- c1450 Dives & P.(Lchf 35)42 : Elues þat been fendes…do lechery with man, woman, and beest, And of monstres and wonder thynges so gendred.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)26/32 : The Kynge of the Hondred Knyghtis…mette a wondir dreme two nyghtes before the batayle.
- ?a1475 LDirige(2) (Dc 322)596 : I see my sauyour Deme the worlde in wondre aray.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)148/78 : Þis was a wondyr note þat was now songyn above þe sky…þei songe gle, glo, glory.
- a1500(c1477) Norton OAlch.(Add 10302)2203 : Elixer is a thing of a secunde intencion, wherfore ye shal more wondir naturis fynd In his worching then in al othir kynde.
- a1475 Sidrak & B.(Lnsd 793)307 : Þerynne woneþ folke of wondre chere…her visages to loke vpon Beth liche houndes.
b
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)576 : Heo dude wnder craftes; þe Scucke hire fulste.
- c1300 SLeg.Mich.(LdMisc 108)23 : Þis Arewe tornede euene a-ȝein to him þat hire schet And smot him…Nov was þat a wonder Arewe.
- c1300 SLeg.Mich.(LdMisc 108)34 : Hou þinchez þe of þis dede? was it a wonder dom?
- a1325(c1280) SLeg.Pass.(Pep 2344)117 : He [Jesus] ham helde…þe princes and þe preostes seye þat wonder dede.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)1.417 : In West Wales Is a wonder buriales…Hool wepoun þere a nyȝt Schal be i-broke er day lyȝt.
- c1390(?a1350) Trental St.Greg.(1) (Vrn(1))80 : Þen onswerd þe pope, ‘allas, Allas, my Modur, þis wondur cas.’
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Sq.(Manly-Rickert)F.248 : Tho speeke they of Canacees ryng And seyden alle that swich a wonder thyng Of craft of rynges herde they neuere non.
- c1400(?c1380) Pearl (Nero A.10)1095 : As þe maynful mone con rys, Er þenne þe day-glem dryue al doun, So sodanly on a wonder wyse, I watz war of a prosessyoun.
- a1425(?a1350) Nicod.(1) (Glb E.9)819 : What wonder werkes gan he ȝow kith here whils he wond ȝow by.
- a1425(?c1375) NHom.(3) Leg.(Hrl 4196)13/230 : Forto deliuer þam he [St. Nicholas] thoght…þus on wunderwise he wroght.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)36.404 : A pore Man there is…that manye wondir Merveilles werketh.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)55.355 : Thys paleys hath the moste wondir Name…For Mo Merveilles here scholen ȝe Sene.
- c1450(c1415) Roy.Serm.(Roy 18.B.23)129/2 : I fynde store and cronicle where þat I rede a vondere þynge.
2.
(a) Contrary to logic or experience, astonishing, surprising; also, puzzling; also, curious; absorbing;
(b) mentally challenging, difficult.
Associated quotations
a
- ?a1300 Jacob & J.(Bod 652)400 : Nou dude Iosep a swiþe wonderþing; He nam a guldene nap, was Pharaones.
- c1390 Castle Love(1) (Vrn)365 : Hit me þinkeþ a wonder þing Of Merci…Þat wolde…Diliuere þe þral out of prison.
- a1400 Cursor (Trin-C R.3.8)3589 : Elde is now a wondir þinge: Alle desiren hit þat are ȝinge; Whenne þei hit haue…þenne wolde þei ȝonge be aȝayn.
- a1425 Arth.& M.(LinI 150)630 : Y schal telle ȝow, how hit was; Now may ȝe here a wondur cas.
- c1430(c1395) Chaucer LGW Prol.(2) (Benson-Robinson)194 : Trewe of love these wemen were echon…was that a wonder thyng, or non?
- c1450 Whanne marye was greet (Lamb 853)110 : A wondir worde y herde him say: Þe greet temple he wolde doun þrawe, And reise it aȝen on þe þridde day.
- c1460 Tree & Fruits HG (McC 132)153/6 : He callith þis a wondir þing…to live in flessh and fele no stiringis þerof.
- a1475 Siege Troy(1) (Hrl 525)175/476 : Now is þis a wondir thyng; Alisaunder, son, how spekest þou?
- c1450(a1400) Libeaus (Clg A.2)56 : Þys ys a wonder þyng…Whanne he þat wolde be a knyȝt Ne wat noȝt what he hyȝt.
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)65 : Sir, it is a wonder thynge that for the delyte of a woman ye wene to dye.
- a1500(c1477) Norton OAlch.(Add 10302)297 : It were a wondir thing & queynt A man that nevir had sight to peynt.
b
- a1450 7 Sages(3) (Cmb Dd.1.17)67 : A wondir thyng that were bygyne To teche hym that my felawes cune.
3.
(a) Of exceptional quality, remarkably good, excellent; admirable; also used as general term of approbation; also, splendid, magnificent, grand;
(b) of exalted moral character, noble;
(c) skillful; also, ingenious;
(d) tending to make an impression, remarkable.
Associated quotations
a
- a1225(?OE) Vsp.A.Hom.(Vsp A.22)235 : He cweð a wunder worder to þar sawle bi þa witie ysaiam.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)3.125 : He schal haue wonder witte and konnynge.
- c1390 Disp.Jesus & MLJ (Vrn)28 : Þou tellest tales of Trinite! In wonderwyse þi wit is went.
- (a1398) Trev.Barth.(Add 27944:Seymour)979/36 : Mastix…ioyneþ togideres in a wonder maner alle broken þinges.
- c1400(?c1380) Pearl (Nero A.10)221 : A wonder perle wythouten wemme In myddez hyr breste watz sette.
- c1400 *Trev.Higd.(Tbr D.7)117a : Hircanus passede flem jordan…& abulde þar a wondur tour; out þar of he pursuwede ofte þe arabes men of arabia.
- ?a1425 *MS Htrn.95 (Htrn 95)143b/b : Þer is a wonder experiment for porres þat ben on þe fete…wassche hem wele first in hote water, [etc.].
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)981/7 : As he passed by a castell there was a wondir turnement.
- a1500(c1340) Rolle Psalter (UC 64)118.18 : I sall bihalde wondirthyngis of thi laghe.
- a1500(c1477) Norton OAlch.(Add 10302)162 : Tru knowlige auauncith gretly clerkis And causith fortherance in our wondre werkis.
- c1500(1446) Morstede Surgery (Hrl 1736)112 : Wayne ys deffendyd fro the arteryes as yt specyfyes in…the wondernett wyche ys cald rete nurabile [read: mirabile] in surgery.
b
- ?c1400 Cursor (Arms 57)3017 : Þat wondir childe ful of hap…was wened fro þe pap.
- c1450 Capgr.St.Kath.(Arun 396)1.424 : This mayde yovre doughter…she shalle Be a wurder [vr. woundyr] woman.
c
- c1300 Lay.Brut (Otho C.13)11427 : Ich con of treo-workes mani wonder craftes.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)6.275 : He bygan to bulde Seynt Albons, his grete chirche…of a wonder werk of brend tyle.
- (a1398) Trev.Barth.(Add 27944:Seymour)274/17 : Wiþ synowy bondis…þe lesse ben imored and rooted on þe more…by wondir craft of kynde.
- (a1398) Trev.Barth.(Add 27944:Seymour)610/36 : Somme [bees] makeþ wex of floures and somme makeþ celles, now rounde, now square, wiþ wondir byndynge and ioynynge and euenes.
- (a1398) Trev.Barth.(Add 27944:Seymour)953/5 : Wiþ blast of fuyre glas is craftily arrayed and lytel fuayle is yfounde þat accordeþ so wele in alle wise to so wonder a werk.
- a1425 Cursor (Glb E.9)28028 : Þan say ȝe men will ȝow biswike, Bot ȝe oft sithes on wonderwise Biswikes þam in swilk marchandise.
- a1400 Siege Jerus.(1) (LdMisc 656)786 : Josophus…Hadde wroȝt a wonder wyle whan hem water fayled.
d
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Esth.1.6 : Þe whiche thing þe peynture with wunder dyuersete made fair.
- a1450(1412) Glade in god þis (Dgb 102)21 : Þe soules he loued, he fet fro helle To paradys among his angels bryȝt; Hem þouȝte þat was a wonder syȝt.
- a1550(c1477) Norton OAlch.(Sln 1873)2613 : In wondire wyse He temptide me aftir ye philisophers gyse.
4.
Dreadful, dire.
Associated quotations
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)8593 : Þe sixte ȝer þer com also a wel wonder cas Vor so gret rein Me ne sei vale ȝer ne flod.
- c1390 Ȝhit is god (Vrn)12 : God wol vengaunce on vs stele…Þis warnynges beoþ wonder & fele.
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)1570 : So loude Þey herde one cry & wepe, þey sterte vp alle for to see what wundyr þyng þat myȝt be.
- 1447 Bokenham Sts.(Arun 327)504 : To oure goddys she nyl do seruyse But hem blasphemyth in wundyr wyse.
- a1450(a1400) Titus & V.(Add 36523)1373 : Thus fell it hym for þis wonder caas…all þat knewe hym…Maden grete moon for his sekenes.
- c1450 Capgr.St.Kath.(Arun 396)4.860 : Party with witte, party wyth nygramauncy, She peruerteth oure lond in wonder wise.
5.
(a) Great in degree or quantity;
(b) uncommonly large, outsize; tremendous, huge.
Associated quotations
a
- a1400 Cursor (Trin-C R.3.8)11503 : Balthisor he offred mirre A bawme of wondir [Vsp: selcuth] bitturnes.
- c1425 Found.St.Barth.30/2 : He cast owte wondir venym, And his ynwardes were purgid from this dedly fylthe.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)18.326 : Amongs Alle this Merveillous thing, There Cam On hem the wondrest dirkeneng, That hem thowghte here sighte was gon.
- a1400 Siege Jerus.(1) (LdMisc 656)458 : Chares ful of chosen, charged with wepne, A wonder nonbr þer was.
- c1450 ?C.d'Orl.Poems (Hrl 682)167/4978 : Y shalle say yow what sche were…Alle though it riche were of a wondir prise, For euyrmore the coloure gan to chaunge.
- a1500(c1477) Norton OAlch.(Add 10302)1034 : If vicious men myght lerne this science, Thei wolde therwith do wondre violence.
- a1500 Let.Alex.(Wor F.172)46 : We cam curteisly into ynde, wher with wounder hast Porrus the kyng was devict and overcomen.
b
- a1425(?c1350) Ywain (Glb E.9)249 : I saw sone whare a man sat…A wonder mace in hand he hade.
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)6574 : Wonder wawes agaste þem alle…Þat þeym nauaillede mast ne roþer.
6.
In surname.
Associated quotations
- (1267) Pat.R.Hen.III128 : Peter Wunderman.