I. ˈmärvəl, ˈmȧv- noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English merveille, mervaille, mervel, from Old French merveille, from Late Latin mirabilia miracles, marvels, from neuter plural of Latin mirabilis wonderful, marvelous, from mirari to wonder at + -abilis -able — more at smile
1. obsolete : miracle
2. : something that causes wonder or astonishment : a cause for surprise : prodigy
with that marvel of architecture before our eyes — Martha Kean
British scientists feel … that they could achieve marvels if they could enjoy the equipment which is available to American scientists — Bertrand Russell
3. : intense surprise or interest : astonishment
this childhood mood of marvel — Publ's Mod. Lang. Association of American
4. : horehound
Synonyms: see wonder
•
- for a marvel
II. verb
( marveled or marvelled ; marveled or marvelled ; marveling or marvelling -v(ə)liŋ ; marvels )
Etymology: Middle English merveillen, mervaillen, mervelen, from Middle French merveillier, from merveille, n.
intransitive verb
: to become filled with surprise, astonishment, wonder, or amazed curiosity or perplexity
marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you — 1 Jn 3:13 (Authorized Version)
marveled to see what had been done so quickly
— often used with at
marveled at his dexterity
marveling at the beauty of the scene
transitive verb
1. : to feel astonishment or perplexity at or about
marveled that they had escaped unhurt
marveled what it all meant
2. obsolete : to cause to marvel : astonish
III.
dialect
variant of marble