n. & v.
n. 1 a wonderful thing. 2 (foll. by of) a wonderful example of (a quality).
v.intr. (marvelled, marvelling; US marveled, marveling) literary 1 (foll. by at, or that + clause) feel surprise or wonder. 2 (foll. by how, why, etc. + clause) wonder. marvel of Peru a showy garden plant, Mirabilis jalapa, with flowers opening in the afternoon. marveller n.
[ ME f. OF merveille, merveiller f. LL mirabilia neut. pl. of L mirabilis f. mirari wonder at: see MIRACLE ]