I. ˈthəndə(r) noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English thoner, thonder, thunder, from Old English thunor; akin to Old Saxon thunar thunder, Old High German thonar thunder, Old Norse Thōrr god of thunder, Latin tonare to thunder, Greek stenein to moan, groan, Sanskrit stanati, staniti, stanayati it thunders, tanyati it resounds, roars
1.
a. : the loud and at a distance often rolling sound that follows a flash of lightning due to the sudden expansion of the air in the path of the discharge
b. archaic : a discharge of lightning : thunderbolt
six the thunder has smitten — P.B.Shelley
c. archaic : a peal of thunder : thunderclap
a sullen thunder is rolled — Alfred Tennyson
d. dialect : thunderstorm
2.
a. : a usually threatening declamation or utterance whether bombastic or eloquent
hurled his thunder over the terrified heads of mortals who had spoken in error — C.R.Tracy
legal maneuvers, editorial thunder , and political speech — J.B.Martin
— often used in plural
b. : great force, stength, violence, or energy
their carefully cultivated air of benevolence … shattered by the thunder of a purge — New York Times
3. : a loud or noisy sound likened to thunder : bang , rumble
the roaring thunder of big guns — American Guide Series: Vermont
the thunder of horses' hooves
4. — used often interjectionally as a mild oath
who in thunder are you
by thunder , I'll show you who's master — Max Peacock
II. verb
( thundered ; thundered ; thundering -d(ə)riŋ ; thunders )
Etymology: Middle English thoneren, thonderen, thunderen, from Old English thunrian, from thunor, n.
intransitive verb
1.
a. : to produce thunder : sound, rattle, or roar as the effect of a discharge of atmospheric electricity — usually used impersonally
it thundered loudly
b. : to give forth a sound likened to thunder
clarion notes of the trumpet thundered through five expansive movements — Lutheran Quarterly
c. : to move, go, or progress with the accompaniment of loud reverberations suggesting thunder
a huge white horse came thundering into the yard — Zane Grey
a mighty cataract thundered into the ravine — American Guide Series: Minnesota
d. : to strike an object so as to produce a loud sound
the general's fist thundered on the table — Kenneth Roberts
2. : to utter violent, loud, bombastic, or impressively phrased denunciation, warning, or threat
thundered day in and day out on the “manifest destiny” of the United States — American Guide Series: Nevada
the preacher thundered from the pulpit against corruption
transitive verb
1.
a. : to utter in or as if in a loud thundering tone especially as a threat or warning
“woe unto you” he thundered at these blind leaders — W.F.Hambly
thundered out the words: “Seekest thou great things for thyself” — Current Biography
b. : to express (as an emotion) in or as if in a loud thundering tone
preachers had thundered hatred of the South — Dixon Wecter
2. : to strike so as to cause a sound likened to thunder