[f. as prec. + -MENT.]
† 1. Loss of physical sensation, insensibility; paralysis, numbness, deadness. Obs.
1576. Baker, Gesner’s Jewell of Health, 153 b. It avayleth also in the hote joynt aches … in causing an astonishment to those places.
1607. Topsell, Four-f. Beasts, 431. Those which are troubled with any deafness or astonishment in any part of their bodies.
1656. Ridgley, Pract. Physic, 234. There is astonishment of the Leg by compression of the Nerves.
† b. ‘Setting on edge’ of the teeth. Obs.
1616. Surfl. & Markh., Countr. Farm, 176. Purcelane eaten doth cure the roughnesse and astonishment of the teeth.
† 2. Loss of sense or ‘wits’; being out of one’s wits or at one’s wits’ end; mental prostration, stupor. Wine of astonishment: stupefying wine. Obs.
1611. Bible, Ps. lx. 3. To drinke the wine of astonishment [Genev. giddines].
1667. Milton, P. L., I. 316. If such astonishment as this can sieze Eternal spirits.
1725. De Foe, Voy. round World (1840), 271. I had a kind of astonishment upon me for a great while.
3. Loss of presence of mind, coolness, or courage; dismay, consternation, dread. arch.
a. 1586. Sidney, Arcadia, II. xxii. (1590), 201 b (J.). With no lesse wonder to vs, then astonishment to themselues.
1596. Spenser, F. Q., V. iii. 26. They stricken were with great astonishment, And their faint hearts with senselesse horror queld.
1733. Bailey, Erasm. Colloq. (1877), 381. A man under an astonishment betwixt the hope of life and the fear of death.
1861. Alford, in Life (1873), 339. Let not the astonishment of your present grief supersede your zeal for God’s work.
4. Mental disturbance or excitement due to the sudden presentation of anything unlooked for or unaccountable; wonder temporarily overpowering the mind; amazement.
1594. T. B., La Primaud. Fr. Acad., II. 401. Epicures & Atheists, must needs be driuen into an astonishment at this.
1630. Milton, On Shaks. Thou in our wonder and astonishment Hast built thy selfe a livelong monument.
1712. Addison, Spect., No. 412, ¶ 2. We are flung into pleasing astonishment at such unbounded views.
1798. Ferriar, Illustr. Sterne, i. 6. The splendid scenes beheld with astonishment by Europe.
1874. Black, Pr. Thule, 47. He looked at her for a moment in astonishment.
5. An object of astonishment; a cause of sudden consternation or wonder.
1611. Bible, Deut. xxviii. 37. Thou shalt become an astonishment, a prouerbe, and a by-worde.
1666. Perrinchief, Serm. Westm., 7 Nov., 32. [It] makes his Memory an execration, and his Name an astonishment.
1792. T. Jefferson, Writ. (1859), III. 459. Mr. Carmichael’s silence has been long my astonishment.
