wondrous
UK: ˈwʌndrəs | US: ˈwʌndrəs
adj. inspiring a feeling of wonder or delight; marvelous
adj. (archaic) remarkable or extraordinary
wondrous = wonder<marvel> + ous<adjective suffix>
- wonder: From Old English wundor (miracle, marvel), Proto-Germanic wundrą (astonishment). Retains its core meaning of awe-inspiring phenomena.
- ous: A suffix derived from Latin -osus, indicating "full of" or "having the quality of."
Etymology Origin:
The word wondrous emerged in Middle English (14th century) by combining wonder with the adjectival suffix -ous, likely influenced by Latin mirandus (worthy of wonder). It originally emphasized divine or supernatural marvels but later broadened to describe anything extraordinarily beautiful or impressive. The suffix -ous systematically converts nouns into adjectives (e.g., dangerous, joyous), reinforcing wondrous as "full of wonder."
The sunset painted a wondrous sky of crimson and gold.
She told wondrous tales of her travels across distant lands.
The ancient temple was a wondrous sight to behold.
His invention was a wondrous achievement in modern science.
The child gazed at the fireworks with wondrous eyes.