Obs. or arch. (in later use Sc.). Forms: see WONDER sb. [Partly OE. wundor WONDER sb. in compounds, as wundorágræfen wonderfully carved (so in OFris. wundergrât wonderfully great, OHG. wunterwas very sharp, MHG. wunderschœne very beautiful); partly OE. wundrum, advb. dative pl. of wundor (cf. MHG. wundernalt very old, etc., and the similar use of gen. pl. of ON. undr in undradigr, -hár wondrously big, high, etc.).] Wondrously, marvelously, surprisingly; exceedingly, very.
c. 1200. Ormin, 7284. Wunnderr mikell shame wass till Issraæle þede.
c. 1205. Lay., 1154. Þa wnder creftie men. Ibid., 1744. Þat feht wes wnder strong.
13[?]. Cursor M., 4448 (Gött.). Þe king wid þaim was wonder wrath.
c. 1369. Chaucer, Dethe Blaunche 452 (Fairf.). Than founde I sitte even vpryght A wonder wel farynge knyght.
c. 1420. Prose Life Alex., 46. This prynce was a wyghte man … & wonder trewe till Alexander.
c. 1420. Liber Cocorum, 23. Wasshe hom and hew hom wondur smalle.
1536. Cranmer, Lett., in Misc. Writ. (Parker Soc.), 322. Wherein I would wonder fain break my mind unto you.
a. 1500. Freiris of Berwik, 167, in Dunbar’s Poems (S.T.S.), 290. With that scho smylit woundir lustely.
1596. Dalrymple, trans. Leslie’s Hist. Scot., II. (S.T.S.), I. 169. Hadrian heiring this, was woundir discontent.
1725. Ramsay, Gentle Sheph., II. iv. Now I believe ye like me wonder weel.
