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)

marveled, marveling , marvelled, marvelling .

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)

marveled, marveling , marvelled, marvelling .

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

   I marvel at your courage.

marvel

/ ˈmɑːvəl /

verb

1. to be filled with surprise or wonder

noun

1. something that causes wonder

2. archaic,  astonishment

Other Word Forms

• marvelment 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

I was curious about the logistical marvel that could get a package from click to doorstep—sometimes in a few hours.

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When I hear the door close from their exit, I peel myself up from the warm table and marvel at the oily outline my body has left on the sheet.

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This marvel of a mash-up — part novel, part memoir, part effort to reconnect with a dead parent who never uttered an “I love you” — has as many pain points as life lessons.

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After accusing his left-wing political opponents of having “the devil’s ideology,” he marveled at his good fortune.

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Richard York, of the University of Oregon, is seen marveling in the film at the self-willed blindness of the U.S. policy community to a simple question: Do clean-energy subsidies result in fossil fuels being displaced?

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Related Words

• genius 
• miracle