English

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Etymology

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From Middle English astouned, astoned, astuned, past participle of astounen, astonen, astunen (to astonish). More at astonish.

Pronunciation

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  • IPA(key): /əˈstaʊnd/
  • Audio (US):(file)
  • Rhymes: -aʊnd

Verb

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astound (third-person singular simple present astounds, present participle astounding, simple past and past participle astounded)

  1. To astonish, bewilder or dazzle.
    • 1637, John Milton, Comus, London: Humphrey Robinson, p. 8,[1]
      These thoughts may startle well, but not astound
      The vertuous mind []
    • 1820, Walter Scott, chapter 22, in Ivanhoe[2]:
      The yell which Isaac raised at this unfeeling communication made the very vault to ring, and astounded the two Saracens so much that they let go their hold of the Jew.
    • 1848, Elizabeth Gaskell, chapter 6, in Mary Barton[3]:
      The vices of the poor sometimes astound us here; but when the secrets of all hearts shall be made known, their virtues will astound us in far greater degree. Of this I am certain.
    • 1982, Paul Auster, “On the High Wire” in The Art of Hunger, Los Angeles: Sun & Moon Press, 1992, p. 240,[4]
      A young man had strung a wire between the towers of Notre-Dame Cathedral and walked and juggled and danced on it for three hours, astounding the crowds of people below.

Derived terms

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Translations

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Adjective

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astound (comparative more astound, superlative most astound)

  1. (obsolete) Stunned; astounded; astonished.

Further reading

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