also, 3–7 amase. [f. A pref. 1 ? intensive + MAZE.]
† 1. To put out of one’s wits; to stun or stupefy, as by a blow on the head; to infatuate, craze. Obs.
a. 1230. Ancr. R., 270. Nis he witterlich amased & ut of his witte.
1509. Hawes, Past. Pleas., XXX. xii. It was no wonder that I was amazed, My herte and minde she had so tane in cure.
1530. Palsgr., 421/1. You will amase hym with beatyng of hym thus about the heed. He was so amased with the stroke that he was redy to fall downe.
a. 1553. Udall, Roister Doister, IV. vii. To be amased with the smoke.
1642. Rogers, Naaman, 44. The Lord … smote him to the ground, and amazed him.
† 2. To drive one to his wit’s end, bewilder, perplex. Obs.
1563. Homilies, II. ii. III. (1640), 70. They dull and amaze the understanding of the unlearned.
1603. Drayton, Heroic. Ep., xi. 136. Let not the Beames, that Greatnesse doth reflect, Amaze thy Hopes.
1609. C. Butler, Fem. Mon. (1634), 135. The Snow amazeth them, and, dazzling their eyes, causeth them presently to fall.
1642. H. More, Song of Soul, II. App. lxxix. That which well amazen may The wisest man and puzzle evermore.
† 3. To overcome with sudden fear or panic; to fill with consternation, terrify, alarm. Obs.
1530. Palsgr., 421/1. I amase, I fray sodenly, Jesgare.
1603. Drayton, Odes, xvii. 27. Though they to one be ten, Be not amazed.
1653. Walton, Angler, 109. The sight of any shadow amazes the fish.
1706. trans. Dupin’s Eccl. Hist. 16th C., II. III. ii. 35. Besides it is the Duty of a Preacher to amaze a Sinner.
4. To overwhelm with wonder, to astound or greatly astonish.
1592. Shaks., Ven. & Ad., 634. Crystal eyne, Whose full perfection all the world amazes.
1766. H. Brooke, Fool of Quality (1859), II. 9. You amaze me greatly—is this all the notice and care they take of such a treasure?
1824. Dibdin, Libr. Comp., 185. Would startle the sensitive, and even amaze the incredulous.
1849. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., II. 33. A young man, whose eccentric career was destined to amaze Europe.
† 5. refl. To bewilder, puzzle, or drive oneself stupid. Obs.
1645. Milton, Colast. (1851), 357. I amaze me.
1653. Walton, Angler, 98. I might easily amaze my self, and tire you in a relation of them.
a. 1678. Marvell, Poems, Wks. 1776, III. 412.
| How vainly men themselves amaze, | |
| To win the palm, the oak, or bays. |
6. intr. To be astounded or stupefied. arch.
1589. Puttenham, Eng. Poesie (1869), 240. It would so make the chast cares amaze.
1593. Peele, Edw. I., 79. Madam, amaze not.
1875. B. Taylor, Faust, I. i. II. 5. Eye is blinded, ear amazes. Ibid., IV. i. II. 236. Men amaze thereat.
