Astounded

/əˈstaʊndəd/ verb

Definition

Shocked or greatly surprised; amazed to the point of being stunned or bewildered.

Etymology

From Old French 'estoner' meaning to stun or daze, from Latin 'ex-' (out) and 'tonare' (to thunder). The word literally means to be thunderstruck, reflecting the overwhelming nature of great surprise.

Kelly Says

The connection between thunder and amazement appears in many languages - we say people are 'thunderstruck' when astonished, reflecting ancient beliefs that sudden loud sounds could literally stun or disorient people.

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.