amazement

Noun

amazement (countable and uncountable, plural amazements)

1. (uncountable) The condition of being amazed; a state of overwhelming wonder, as from surprise or sudden fear, horror, or admiration; a feeling of intense astonishment or awe, as from witnessing something incredible and impressive.
   • We stared in amazement at the skills on display.
   • The amazement that painting sparked in me lasted until the tour guide jolted me out of it.

   Synonyms:

   awe, astonishment, astoundment, fascination, stupefaction

2. (archaic, countable) A particular feeling of wonder, surprise, fear, or horror.
   • Were believers thoroughly persuaded of what God meaneth, by these things, they would not be so liable to those frights and amazements which distract and disturb them.1682, Samuel Willard, The fiery tryal no strange thing, Boston: Samuel Sewell, page 16
   • In the midst of ill rumours and amazements, his countenance changeth not.1791, “Character of the faithful Man”, in Aphorisms concerning the Assurance of Faith, Philadelphia: W. Young, page 60
3. (countable, dated) Something which amazes.
   • So impossible did it seem that such an amazement of horse-flesh could ever be hers.1913, Jack London, chapter 21, in The Valley of the Moon
   • I believe the Urchin showed more enthusiasm over the stone and the robin than over any of the amazements that succeeded them.1918, Christopher Morley, “The Urchin at the Zoo,”, in Mince Pie
4. (obsolete) Madness, frenzy.