marvel

C1 Topic:Actions & Processes

US /ˈmɑɹvl̩/ UK /ˈmɑːvl̩/ See IPA manual

Freq #10854

Meanings

1

verb
To be filled with wonder or amazement at something.

The tourists marvelled at the size of the ancient cathedral.
2

noun
Something amazing that fills you with wonder.

The new bridge is a marvel of modern engineering.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 verb · to be filled with wonder or... wonder

2 noun · something amazing that... wonder

Word family

Forms marveledmarvelingmarvelledmarvellingmarvels

Derived forms marvelermarvellermarvellousmarvelmentmarvelousmarvelrymarvelsomemarvelversemcuoutmarvelunmarvelingunmarvelling

Simplified etymology

Marvel entered English in the Middle Ages and ultimately derives from Latin mirus, “wonderful,” through the same word family as Latin miraculum, “an object of wonder.” Its history is therefore closely connected with miracle and admiration.

Etymology

First attested from 1300, from Middle English merveile, from Old French merveille (“a wonder”), from Vulgar Latin *miribilia, from Latin mīrābilia (“wonderful things”), from neuter plural of mīrābilis (“strange, wonderful”), from mīror (“to wonder at”), from mīrus (“wonderful”). Doublet of mirabilia.

*(s)mey- Proto-Indo-European merveile Middle English merveille Old French *miribilia la-vul mīrābilia Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Actions & Processes

External links

# marvel

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C1
**Part of speech:** verb, noun
**IPA (US):** /ˈmɑɹvl̩/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈmɑːvl̩/
**Frequency rank:** 10854

## Meanings
1. To be filled with wonder or amazement at something.
2. Something amazing that fills you with wonder.

## Examples
- The tourists marvelled at the size of the ancient cathedral.
- The new bridge is a marvel of modern engineering.

## Derived Forms
- marveler
- marveller
- marvellous
- marvelment
- marvelous
- marvelry
- marvelsome
- marvelverse
- mcu
- outmarvel
- unmarveling
- unmarvelling

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: *(s)mey-
- Root: merveile
- Root: merveille
- Root: *miribilia
- Root: mīrābilia

## Etymology
First attested from 1300, from Middle English merveile, from Old French merveille (“a wonder”), from Vulgar Latin *miribilia, from Latin mīrābilia (“wonderful things”), from neuter plural of mīrābilis (“strange, wonderful”), from mīror (“to wonder at”), from mīrus (“wonderful”). Doublet of mirabilia.

## AI Etymology
Marvel is first attested from 1300, from Middle English merveile, from Old French merveille (“a wonder”), from Vulgar Latin *miribilia, from Latin mīrābilia (“wonderful things”), from neuter plural of mīrābilis (“strange, wonderful”), from mīror (“to wonder at”), from mīrus (“wonderful”). Doublet of mirabilia. Important historical forms include Proto-Indo-European *(s)mey-, Middle English merveile, Old French merveille, Vulgar Latin *miribilia, and Latin mīrābilia. In present-day use, it can mean to be filled with wonder or amazement at something, or something amazing that fills you with wonder.

## Topics
- Actions & Processes

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