wonder
- A feeling of great surprise and amazement when you see or experience something beautiful or extraordinary.
- As a verb, to think curiously about something or to feel uncertain and want to know more.
In a sentence
- The children stared up at the night sky full of stars with wide-eyed wonder.
- I often wonder what life was like for people who lived hundreds of years ago.
Usage note. As a noun, 'wonder' emphasizes emotional awe; as a verb, it expresses curiosity or questioning—choosing the right form depends on whether you're describing a feeling or a thought process.
Where it comes from
English wonder · entered English pre-11th c.
From Old English 'wundor,' meaning 'marvelous thing, miracle, or spectacle,' related to Old Saxon 'wundar' and Old High German 'wuntar,' all from Proto-Germanic origins. The word has been in English since before the 11th century and is one of the language's oldest surviving words for astonishment.