a. and adv. Obs. Also 6 Sc. wounderis. [gen. of WONDER sb.; a Scand. idiom: cf. MSw. unders, gen. of under WONDER sb. in unders miraculum, teken, thing marvel, miracle, prodigy. Cf. lives alive (LIFE sb. 15). See also WONDROUS.]

1

  A.  adj. = WONDROUS a.

2

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 1529. Þaa þat þa wonders [Gött. wonþer] werkes wroght … Tua pilers þa mad.

3

a. 1500.  Sir Beues, 1469 (Chetham MS.). A wonders thinge [13[?] MS. A. wonder-þing] ye may here.

4

1509.  Hawes, Past. Pleas., xxxvi. (1555), z ij b. It was a wonders case.

5

c. 1511.  1st Engl. Bk. Amer. (Arb.), Introd. 29/1. Many dyuers maner and wonders bestes.

6

c. 1520.  Skelton, Magnyf., 89. A, ye be wonders men!

7

c. 1530.  Ld. Berners, Arth. Lyt. Bryt., xxxv. (1814), 111. Whan the duke sawe these thre knyghtes do suche wonders meruayles in armes … he was … dyspleased.

8

1602.  W. Basse, Three Past. Elegies, i. (1893), 44. An Iuory boxe of wonders cost.

9

  B.  adv. = WONDROUS adv.

10

1387–8.  T. Usk, Test. Love, II. iii. (Skeat), l. 45. Ye … let light of that thing whiche firste ye maked to you wonders dere.

11

c. 1395.  Plowman’s Tale, 699, in Pol. Poems (Rolls), I. 324. These folkes be wonders stout.

12

c. 1520.  Everyman, 7. This matter is wonders precyous.

13

1551.  Robinson, trans. More’s Utopia, II. (1895), 220. Hym they receyue and interteyne wonders gentyllye.

14

1567.  Gude & Godlie B. (S.T.S.), 207. In danger of deith,… Do weill is harnessit, and wounderis bauld.

15

a. 1600[?].  Dialogue in Verse, in Marlowe’s Wks. 1850, III. 304. But a’ dances wonders well.

16

  Hence † Wondersly adv. wondrously.

17

1489.  Skelton, Dethe Erle Northumb., 193. O perlese Prince…! Which to thy resemblaunce wondersly hast wrought All mankynd.

18

1556.  J. Heywood, Spider & F., xiv. 5. Be ye sure it doth wondersly well.

19