marvel

[ mahr-vuhl ]

noun

1. something that causes wonder, admiration, or astonishment; a wonderful thing; a wonder or prodigy:

   The new bridge is an engineering marvel.

2. Archaic. the feeling of wonder; astonishment.

verb (used with object)

, mar·veled, mar·vel·ing or (especially British) mar·velled, mar·vel·ling.

1. to wonder at (usually followed by a clause as object):

   I marvel that you were able to succeed against such odds.

2. to wonder or be curious about (usually followed by a clause as object):

   A child marvels that the stars can be.

verb (used without object)

, mar·veled, mar·vel·ing or (especially British) mar·velled, mar·vel·ling.

1. to be filled with wonder, admiration, or astonishment, as at something surprising or extraordinary:

   I marvel at your courage.

marvel

/ ˈmɑːvəl /

verb

1. whenintr, often foll by at or about; when tr, takes a clause as object to be filled with surprise or wonder

noun

1. something that causes wonder
2. archaic.
   astonishment

Other Words From

• marvel·ment noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of marvel¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English mervel, from Old French merveil(l)e, from Late Latin mīrābilia “marvels,” noun use of neuter plural of Latin mīrābilis “marvelous”; admirable

Word History and Origins

Origin of marvel¹

C13: from Old French merveille, from Late Latin mīrābilia, from Latin mīrābilis, from mīrārī to wonder at

Example Sentences

It’s that feeling of studying a photo of an ancestor, marveling at their outfit, trying to decipher who they were through each stylistic detail.

From Los Angeles Times

Have a little dinner party for your family and friends so they can marvel over your skills.

From Salon

Visit laid-back mansions or an icon’s personal gallery, or marvel at the region’s natural landscapes and glamorous history.

From Los Angeles Times

"Even down South," marvels Shears, speaking from the kitchen of his "cousin Jackie-Sue's house in North Carolina".

From BBC

On an 1861 trip to the United States, the English novelist Anthony Trollope marveled that Americans consumed twice as much beef as Englishmen.

From Salon

Related Words

• genius
• miracle