amaze
- 1
- 2To feel very surprised and full of wonder.
Like standing speechless when you first see the open ocean.
The villagers amaze at the comet streaking across the night sky.
Madam amaze not, ſee his Maieſtie / Returnd vvith glory from the holy land.
1593, [George Peele], The Famous Chronicle of King Edward the FirstHere, amaze means to be filled with surprise and wonder.Note
- 3A feeling of great surprise and wonder.
Like the open-mouthed feeling when something seems impossible.
The crowd watched in amaze as the acrobat leapt between the towers.
She took the proffered cheque and stared at it with puzzled amaze, dazed by her own behaviour.
1985, Lawrence Durrell, “Quinx”Here, amaze means amazement, a feeling of great surprise and wonder.Note
- 4To shock someone so much that they cannot think or move.
Note
- 5To confuse someone so badly that they don't know what to do.
The many musits thought the which he goes / Are like a labyrinth to amaze his foes.
1593, [William Shakespeare], Venus and AdonisHere, amaze means to confuse or bewilder.[T]heir [flies'] breeding is ſo various and vvonderful, that I might eaſily amaze my ſelf, and tire you in a relation of them.
1653, Iz[aak] Wa[lton], The Compleat Angler or The Contemplative Man’s RecreationHere, amaze means to confuse or puzzle, here said of oneself.Note
- 6A confused, stunned state where the mind cannot work clearly.
Like your mind going blank when too much happens at once.
He stood in helpless amaze, unable to make sense of the scene.
A deep amaze fell over the crowd after the sudden crash.
Similaramazement
Note
- 7To fill someone with sudden fear or terror.
Note
- 8A strong feeling of fear or terror.
Like the freezing feeling of fear when danger is close.
The soldiers fled in amaze when the great gates broke open.
A cold amaze gripped her at the sound of the howl.
Similaramazement
Note
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Origin
The verb comes from Old English amasian, meaning to confuse or astonish. The noun comes from the verb.