marvel · noun — that which causes wonder; a prodigy; a portent. It carries an Arena rating of 2018, earned across 45 head-to-head judged battles.
Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 3.0).
Among words judged in Lexicurio's Arena, marvel ranks #33 of 42,854 for Qualifying, #257 of 17,142 for Most Malleable Words, #893 of 17,133 for Words That Escaped Their Books, #939 of 17,134 for Most Beautiful Words.
marvel is pronounced /ˈmɑːvəl/.
Why “marvel” is a great word
That which causes intense wonder or astonishment, or the state of being filled by it. From Middle English merveile, from Old French merveille ("a wonder"), from Vulgar Latin *miribilia, from Latin mīrābilia ("wonderful things"), from mīrābilis ("strange, wonderful"), from mīror ("to wonder at"), from mīrus ("wonderful"), first attested c. 1300. Unlike "wonder," which can denote a calm curiosity, or "miracle," which implies divine intervention, a marvel is the specific object of profound awe. It is the impossible architecture of a spider's web beaded with morning dew, the silent, expanding immensity of a night sky seen from a desert, or the fragile, perfect mechanism of a human hand—the suspended breath before the mind rushes to explain it away, the refusal to diminish what stands before you.
❧ Essay by Lexicurio’s AI · definition, etymology & citations from published sources
Etymology
First attested from 1300, from Middle English merveile, from Old French merveille (“a wonder”), from Vulgar Latin *miribilia, from Latin mīrābilia (“wonderful things”), from neuter plural of mīrābilis (“strange, wonderful”), from mīror (“to wonder at”), from mīrus (“wonderful”). Doublet of mirabilia.
noun
- That which causes wonder; a prodigy; a portent.e.g.“The mysteries of this wonderful universe rise more palpable upon the departing spirit, so soon to mingle with their marvels.” — 1834, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], chapter XXIV, in Francesca Carrara. […], volume II, London: Richard Bentley, […], (successor to Henry Colburn), →OCLC, page 261:
- Wonder, astonishment.e.g.“No maruel though you bite so sharp at reasons,” — c. 1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Troylus and Cressida”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[w
verb
- To become filled with wonderment or admiration; to be amazed at something.e.g.“Marueile not, my brethren, if the world hate you.” — 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, 1 John 3:13, column 1:
- To wonder at.e.g.“I maruell that her Grace did leaue it out.” — c. 1593 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedy of Richard the Third: […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[
- To cause to wonder or be surprised.e.g.“15th century, Anonymous, Richard the Redeless
But much now me marvelleth.”
Definitions & examples from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 3.0).
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