Wonder, n.
Etymology: [OE. wonder, wunder, AS. wundor; akin to D. wonder, OS. wundar, OHG. wuntar, G. wunder, Icel. undr, Sw. & Dan. under, and perhaps to Gr.
1. That emotion which is excited by novelty, or the presentation to the sight or mind of something new, unusual, strange, great, extraordinary, or not well understood; surprise; astonishment; admiration; amazement. They were filled with wonder and amazement at that which had happened unto him. Acts iii. 10. Wonder is the effect of novelty upon ignorance. Johnson.
Note: Wonder expresses less than astonishment, and much less than amazement. It differs from admiration, as now used, in not being necessarily accompanied with love, esteem, or approbation.
2. A cause of wonder; that which excites surprise; a strange thing; a prodigy; a miracle. " Babylon, the wonder of all tongues." Milton. To try things oft, and never to give over, doth wonders. Bacon. I am as a wonder unto many. Ps. lxxi. 7. Seven wonders of the world. See in the Dictionary of Noted Names in Fiction.
3 other Webster entries under this spelling
Wonder, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Wondered; p. pr. & vb. n. Wondering.]
1. To be affected with surprise or admiration; to be struck with astonishment; to be amazed; to marvel. I could not sufficiently wonder at the intrepidity of these diminutive mortals. Swift. We cease to wonder at what we understand. Johnson.
2. To feel doubt and curiosity; to wait with uncertain expectation; to query in the mind; as, he wondered why they came. I wonder, in my soul, What you would ask me, that I should deny. Shak.
Wonder, a.
Wonderful. [Obs.] Gower. After that he said a wonder thing. Chaucer.
Wonder, adv.
Wonderfully. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Shades of meaning
Fernald has no entry of its own for wonder; he lists it under admire, amazement.
Where he writes about it:
In the old sense of wonder, admire is practically obsolete; the word now expresses a delight and approval, in which the element of wonder unconsciously mingles. — from admire
Wonder is often pleasing, and may be continuous in view of that which surpasses our comprehension; as, the magnitude, order, and beauty of the heavens fill us with increasing wonder. — from amazement