Chiefly literary. [f. WONDER v. + -MENT.]
1. The or a state of wonder; WONDER sb. 7.
1535. in Lett. Suppr. Monast. (Camden), 78. After most shamefull rumors raysed uppe to theyre dyffamacion, with slaunderouse wonderment of the towne.
1569. Golding, trans. Heminge’s Postill, 30. Wee must with holy wonderment embrace the heauenly Oracles. Ibid. (1571), Calvin on Ps. viii. Contents, Dauid bethinking himself of Gods fatherly bountifulnesse towards mankinde … is rauished into a wonderment of it.
1590. Spenser, F. Q., I. xii. 9. Whom all admired, as from heauen sent, And gazd vpon with gaping wonderment.
1688. Bunyan, Sol. Temple, xxii. 52. That which added to their adornment, was the wonderment of a Queen.
1787. Mme. D’Arblay, Diary, 19 Feb. The wonderment with which they heard a proposal so new was diverting.
1799. Coleridge, ‘Nor cold, nor stern, my soul!’ 8. They gape for wonderment.
1815. Wordsw., Prose Wks. (1876), II. 119. Much of what his biographer deemed genuine admiration must in fact have been blind wonderment.
1879. Lewes, Study Psychol., viii. 155. The mind passes from wonderment at the miraculous to the discernment of order.
b. An expression of wonder: chiefly in to make a wonderment, to express wonder.
1553. M. Wood, trans. Gardiner’s True Obed., 54 b. Her parentes … would make suche a lyke wonderment, as these men seme to vse against me.
a. 1565. R. Turner, in Marbeck, Bk. Notes (1581), 243. A great outcrie & wonderment was made against the Deacons & Priests of Constantinople.
1630. trans. Camden’s Hist. Eliz., II. 2 (an. 1570). Much talke there was … of the murther of the Regent, many making a wonderment at vaine things, as his mothers dreame.
1681. R. L’Estrange, Tully’s Offices, 110. What a wonderment is made of it.
1748. Richardson, Clarissa (1768), III. 71. Why, Jack, thou needest not make such a wonderment, as the girls say.
1838. Bentley’s Misc., III. 331. After the usual wonderments, and mutual applauses of our marvellous good looks.
1840. Mrs. Trollope, Widow Married, xxiv. What wonderments you do make about nothing.
2. An object of or a matter for wonder; a wonderful thing; = WONDER sb. 1–4.
1542. Udall, Erasm. Apoph., 70 b. The games called Dionysiaca,… he called the greate woondrementes & gazynges of fooles.
1563. Foxe, A. & M., 50/2. This obstinate and stoburn rebellion of tharchbishop stirred vp much anger…, that almost he was alone a wonderment to al the realme.
1568. Grafton, Chron., II. 213, marg. Sir Hugh Spencer the yonger lead about for wonderment, lyke a beast.
1584. Constable, Diana, VII. i. A flouring fielde, the world’s sole wonderment.
1591. Spenser, Ruins of Rome, 28. Seuen Romane Hils, the worlds 7. wonderments.
1618. Rowlands, Sacred Mem., 8. Therefore in Heathens Images he spake, Wrought wonderments, and wrought them so from grace.
1628. Prynne, Love-lockes, 33. They turne themselues into … so many Monsters, and wonderments of the World.
1643. Trapp, Comm. Gen. xxxv. 1. Deliverances, commonly, are but nine days wonderment, at utmost.
1757. Foote, Author, Prol. ’Tis Wonderment, them Boobies ben’t asham’d.
1841. J. F. Cooper, Deerslayer, xv. It’s a wonderment to me … how you got us off.
1859. Reeve, Brittany, 87. A shop with all sorts of household wonderments exposed for sale.
1915. H. James, Sense of the Past (1917), 150. To determine wonderments that should be beyond answering.
b. A wonderful example or instance (of something): = WONDER sb. 1 d.
1606. G. W[oodcocke], Hist. Ivstine, v. 25. But vpon Alcibiades they threw down a wonderment of welcoms.
1607. Beaum. & Fl., Woman Hater, IV. i. How many … have dedicated grave Works to Ladies, toothless, [etc.], and have call’d them … the patterns of perfection, and the wonderment of Women.
1917. Blackw. Mag., Aug., 253. The untended orchards are arrayed in a wonderment of blossom.
3. Wonderful quality: = WONDER sb. 1 b.
1596. Spenser, F. Q., IV. v. 20. That strange Dame, whose beauties wonderment She lesse esteem’d, then th’ others vertuous gouernment.
1633. P. Fletcher, Purple Isl., III. xxxii. How should I … limme forth her vertues wonderment?
1647. N. Bacon, Disc. Govt. Eng., I. lxxi. 313. That King will be looked upon as a King of wonderment.
1801. Surr, Splendid Misery, III. 251. As a climax of wonderment, the Jacobin Winterton has succeeded with Lady Amelia.
1871. Smiles, Charac., ii. (1876), 33. The child … opens his eyes upon things all of which are full of novelty and wonderment.
