From Middle English wonder, wunder, from Old English wundor (“wonder, miracle, marvel”), from Proto-West Germanic *wundr, from Proto-Germanic *wundrą. Cognate with Scots wunner (“wonder”), West Frisian wonder, wûnder (“wonder, miracle”), Dutch wonder (“miracle, wonder”), Low German wunner, wunder (“wonder”), German Wunder (“miracle, wonder”), Danish, Norwegian Bokmål, Norwegian Nynorsk, and Swedish under (“wonder, miracle”), Faroese and Icelandic undur (“wonder”). The verb is from Middle English wondren, from Old English wundrian, which is from Proto-Germanic *wundrōną. Cognate with Saterland Frisian wunnerje, West Frisian wûnderje, Dutch wonderen, German Low German wunnern, German wundern, Swedish undra, Icelandic undra. Via PIE cognate with English wish (see more).
A sense of awe, astonishment and curiosity, inspired by unexpected events, novel experiences and inexplicable circumstances, sometimes accompanied by surprise, shock or reverence.
And they knew that it was hee which ſate for almes at the beautifull gate of the Temple: and they were filled with wonder and amazement at that which had happened vnto him.1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Acts 3:10, column 1:
All wonder is the effect of novelty upon ignorance.1781, Samuel Johnson, The Lives of the Most Eminent English Poets:
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Socrates: I see, my dear Theaetetus, that Theodorus had a true insight into your nature when he said that you were a philosopher, for wonder is the feeling of a philosopher, and philosophy begins in wonder. He was not a bad genealogist who said that Iris (the messenger of heaven) is the child of Thaumas (wonder).1871, Plato, Benjamin Jowett (translator), Theaetetus (section 155d)
Stuff your eyes with wonder […]live as if you'd drop dead in ten seconds. See the world. It's more fantastic than any dream made or paid for in factories.1953, Ray Bradbury, Fahrenheit 451:
2
Something that causes amazement or awe; a marvel.
Wonders of the World seem to come in sevens.
That concertina was a wonder in its way. The handles that was on it first was wore out long ago, and he'd made new ones of braided rope yarn. And the bellows was patched in more places than a cranberry picker's overalls.1913, Joseph C[rosby] Lincoln, chapter VIII, in Mr. Pratt’s Patients, New York, N.Y.; London: D[aniel] Appleton and Company, →OCLC:
3
Fortunate circumstances.
That stay in the country did her wonders.
It's a wonder no-one saw me.
4
An astonishing and seemingly inexplicable turn of events.
The idea was so ridiculous that it's a wonder anyone went along with it.
5
A feat that demonstrates incredible finesse or skill, as if performed by magic.
Given the limited resources, he's really performed wonders.
6
Someone very talented at something, a genius.
He's a wonder at cooking.
7
Colloquial, Sarcastic A nominalizer that serves as a head noun for the preceding adjective, which together form a mocking or insulting epithet.
Following an adjective ending -less that typically has two syllables
So the voiceless wonder speaks at last.
Well, I wanted to tell the brainless wonder what I thought of him.1931 May 4, Freeman Gosden and Charles Correll, “episode 971”, in AAmos 'n' Andy, McFarland, →ISBN, page 65:
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'Where is the cheating dickless wonder?'2010 June 3, Shari Low, Temptation Street, Hachette UK, →ISBN:
Well, the chinless wonder in question broke out through a snatch squad and evaded capture as neatly as any field op in the Network.2012 July 9, Charles Stross, The Apocalypse Codex: Book 4 in The Laundry Files, Hachette UK, →ISBN:
Miss Paynter had a little wonder as to whether the man, as she called Mr. Lacy in her own mind, had ever been admitted to this room. She thought not.1934, Katharine Tynan, The house of dreams:
From Middle English wonder, wunder, from Old English wundor (“wonder, miracle, marvel”), from Proto-West Germanic *wundr, from Proto-Germanic *wundrą. Cognate with Scots wunner (“wonder”), West Frisian wonder, wûnder (“wonder, miracle”), Dutch wonder (“miracle, wonder”), Low German wunner, wunder (“wonder”), German Wunder (“miracle, wonder”), Danish, Norwegian Bokmål, Norwegian Nynorsk, and Swedish under (“wonder, miracle”), Faroese and Icelandic undur (“wonder”). The verb is from Middle English wondren, from Old English wundrian, which is from Proto-Germanic *wundrōną. Cognate with Saterland Frisian wunnerje, West Frisian wûnderje, Dutch wonderen, German Low German wunnern, German wundern, Swedish undra, Icelandic undra. Via PIE cognate with English wish (see more).
1
To be affected with surprise or admiration; to be struck with astonishment; to be amazed; to marvel; often followed by at.
He's married by now, I shouldn't wonder.
[…]I could not ſufficiently wonder at the Intrepidity of theſe diminutive Mortals,[…]1726 October 28, [Jonathan Swift], “The Author Gives Some Account of Himself and Family, His First Inducements to Travel. […]”, in Travels into Several Remote Nations of the World. […] [Gulliver’s Travels], volume I, London: […] Benj[amin] Motte, […], →OCLC, part I (A Voyage to Lilliput), pages 14–15:
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Some had read the manuſcript, and rectified its inaccuracies; others had ſeen it in a ſtate ſo imperfect, that they could not forbear to wonder at its preſent excellence; […]1751 October 18 (Gregorian calendar), Samuel Johnson, “No. 163. Monday, October 8. 1751.”, in The Rambler, volume VII, Edinburgh: […] Sands, Murray, and Cochran; sold by W. Gordon, C. Wright, J. Yair, […], published 1752, →OCLC, page 35:
The Celebrity, by arts unknown, induced Mrs. Judge Short and two other ladies to call at Mohair on a certain afternoon when Mr. Cooke was trying a trotter on the track. The three returned wondering and charmed with Mrs. Cooke; they were sure she had had no hand in the furnishing of that atrocious house.1897 December (indicated as 1898), Winston Churchill, chapter IV, in The Celebrity: An Episode, New York, N.Y.: The Macmillan Company; London: Macmillan & Co., Ltd., →OCLC, page 58:
2
To ponder; to feel doubt and curiosity; to query in the mind.
He wondered whether penguins could fly. She had wondered this herself sometimes.
Has Jay gone fishing, I wonder?
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I was wondering what time the film was starting.
I wonder in my Soule / What you would aske me, that I ſhould deny[…]c. 1603–1604 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Othello, the Moore of Venice”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene iii], page 323, column 1:
Topping it all off, The National Alliance is an expensive, professionally-produced newspaper that is distributed for free all over the place. One wonders: Where does their money come from? Who is supporting them?1988 December 4, John Kyper, “Avoid Friends Like The New Alliance Party”, in Gay Community News, volume 16, number 21, page 4: