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# astonishment

noun (astonishment — uncountable)

«astonishment» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

Astonishment is a feeling of very great surprise. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/astonishment/#m1)

### In the lessons

In stories, characters stare, gasp or freeze in astonishment. Phrases: «to my astonishment», «in astonishment», «stare in astonishment». In Alice, Alice is often filled with astonishment at Wonderland.

### Examples

- To my astonishment, the cat began to talk. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/astonishment/#x1)
- The crowd gasped in astonishment. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/astonishment/#x2)
- Mole stared in astonishment at Rat's boat. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/astonishment/#x3)
- Much to our astonishment, we won the cup. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/astonishment/#x4)
- Her eyes widened in astonishment. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/astonishment/#x5)
- He shook his head in astonishment. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/astonishment/#x6)
- The grand-vizir was filled with astonishment. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/astonishment/#x7)

### Note

Uncountable: «great astonishment», not «an astonishment». Verb: astonish.

## In Jewish tradition

It means a fearful shock or a state of horror, and "an astonishment" is something people stare at in horror.

**Interpretation.** It belongs to the curses in Deuteronomy. Tradition reads it as a warning that breaking the covenant would bring Israel such sorrow that it becomes a byword among nations.

### Examples

- The LORD will smite thee with madness, and with blindness, and with astonishment of heart. (Torah DEU.28.28, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/A/astonishment/#x1)
- And thou shalt become an astonishment, a proverb, and a byword, among all the peoples whither the LORD shall lead thee away. (Torah DEU.28.37, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/A/astonishment/#x2)
- How is Babylon become an astonishment among the nations! (Prophets JER.51.41, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/A/astonishment/#x3)
- And Babylon shall become heaps, a dwelling-place for jackals, an astonishment, and a hissing, without inhabitant. (Prophets JER.51.37, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/A/astonishment/#x4)
- To make their land an astonishment, and a perpetual hissing; every one that passeth thereby shall be astonished, and shake his head. (Prophets JER.18.16, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/A/astonishment/#x5)

### Note

Uncountable: «great astonishment», not «an astonishment». Verb: astonish.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «astonishment» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/astonishment/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«astonishment» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/astonishment.html) on Mova free.
- [Trees and pragmatics of «astonishment» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/A/astonishment/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«astonishment» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/astonishment.html) on Mova free.