astonishment

Everyday

Astonishment is a feeling of very great surprise. tree →

In the lessons

In stories, characters stare, gasp or freeze in astonishment. Phrases: «to my astonishment», «in astonishment», «stare in astonishment». In Alice, Alice is often filled with astonishment at Wonderland.

Examples

• To my astonishment, the cat began to talk. tree →
• The crowd gasped in astonishment. tree →
• Mole stared in astonishment at Rat's boat. tree →
• Much to our astonishment, we won the cup. tree →
• Her eyes widened in astonishment. tree →
• He shook his head in astonishment. tree →
• The grand-vizir was filled with astonishment. tree →

Note

Uncountable: «great astonishment», not «an astonishment». Verb: astonish.

In Jewish tradition

It means a fearful shock or a state of horror, and "an astonishment" is something people stare at in horror.

Interpretation. It belongs to the curses in Deuteronomy. Tradition reads it as a warning that breaking the covenant would bring Israel such sorrow that it becomes a byword among nations.

Examples

• The LORD will smite thee with madness, and with blindness, and with astonishment of heart. (Torah DEU.28.28, JPS 1917) tree →
• And thou shalt become an astonishment, a proverb, and a byword, among all the peoples whither the LORD shall lead thee away. (Torah DEU.28.37, JPS 1917) tree →
• How is Babylon become an astonishment among the nations! (Prophets JER.51.41, JPS 1917) tree →
• And Babylon shall become heaps, a dwelling-place for jackals, an astonishment, and a hissing, without inhabitant. (Prophets JER.51.37, JPS 1917) tree →
• To make their land an astonishment, and a perpetual hissing; every one that passeth thereby shall be astonished, and shake his head. (Prophets JER.18.16, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Uncountable: «great astonishment», not «an astonishment». Verb: astonish.