n.
- One that evokes surprise, admiration, or wonder. See synonyms at wonder.
- Strong surprise; astonishment.
v., -veled, also -velled, -vel·ing, -vel·ling, -vels, -vels. v.intr.
To become filled with wonder or astonishment.
v.tr.
To feel amazement or bewilderment at or about: We marveled that they walked away unhurt from the car accident.
[Middle English marvail, from Old French merveille, from Vulgar Latin *miribilia, alteration of Latin mīrābilia, wonderful things, from neuter pl. of mīrābilis, wonderful, from mīrārī, to wonder, from mīrus, wonderful.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
