marvel

• marvail (obsolete)

First attested from 1300, from Middle English merveile, from Old French merveille (“a wonder”), from Vulgar Latin *miribilia, from Latin mirabilia (“wonderful things”), from neuter plural of mirabilis (“strange, wonderful”), from miror (“I wonder at”), from mirus (“wonderful”).

• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈmɑɹvl̩/
• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈmɑːvl̩/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɑː(ɹ)vəl

marvel (plural marvels)

1. That which causes wonder; a prodigy; a miracle.
   • 2017 December 1, Tom Breihan, “Mad Max: Fury Road might already be the best action movie ever made”, in The Onion AV Club‎:

     He found ways to film fiery, elaborate car-wrecks, keeping everything visually clear and beautiful without killing or even seriously injuring anyone. On a sheer technical level, the movie is a marvel.

2. Wonder, astonishment.
   • Sir Walter Scott

     Use lessens marvel.

• marvellous

marvel (third-person singular simple present marvels, present participle (UK) marvelling or (US) marveling, simple past and past participle (UK) marvelled or (US) marveled)

1. (intransitive) To become filled with wonderment or admiration; to be amazed at something.
   • Bible, 1 John iii. 13

     Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you.

2. (obsolete, transitive) To marvel at.

   (Can we find and add a quotation of Wyclif to this entry?)

3. (obsolete, transitive, used impersonally) To cause to marvel or be surprised.
   • Richard the Redeless

     But much now me marvelleth.

• vermal