ˈwʌndə n. & v. --n. 1 an
emotion excited by
what is
unexpected,
unfamiliar, or
inexplicable,
esp.
surprise mingled
with admiration or
curiosity etc. 2 a
strange or
remarkable person or
thing,
specimen,
event, etc. 3 (attrib.) having
marvellous or amazing properties etc. (a wonder drug). 4 a surprising thing (it is a wonder
you were not hurt). --v. 1 intr. (often foll. by
at, or to + infin.) be filled with wonder or
great surprise. 2 tr. (foll. by
that + clause) be surprised to
find. 3 tr.
desire or be
curious to
know (I wonder what
the time is). 4 tr. expressing a
tentative enquiry (I wonder
whether you
would mind?). øI shouldn't wonder colloq. I
think it
likely. I wonder I
very much doubt it. no (or small) wonder (often foll. by that + clause)
one cannot be surprised; one might
have guessed; it is
natural. the
seven wonders of the
world seven buildings
and monuments regarded in
antiquity as specially remarkable. wonder-struck (or -stricken) reduced to
silence by wonder. wonders will
never cease an
exclamation of
extreme (usu. agreeable) surprise. wonder-worker a person
who performs wonders.
work (or do) wonders 1 do miracles. 2
succeed remarkably. øøwonderer n. [OE wundor, wundrian, of unkn. orig.]