different between amazed vs flabbergast

English

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /??me?zd/

Adjective

amazed (comparative more amazed, superlative most amazed)

1. Astonished or confounded with fear, surprise, or wonder; greatly surprised (often with ensuing adpositions e.g. at, with, or by).
   • 1590s, William Shakespeare, A Midsummer Night's Dream: III, ii

     I am amazed at your passionate words

   • 1610s, William Shakespeare, Cymbeline: IV, iii

     I am amazed with matter

   • 1917, Frederic Harrison, The Mill on the Floss. Vol. IX. Harvard Classics Shelf of Fiction

     we are amazed by forked flashes of wisdom

   • And it was while all were passionately intent upon the pleasing and snake-like progress of their uncle that a young girl in furs, ascending the stairs two at a time, peeped perfunctorily into the nursery as she passed the hallway—and halted amazed.

Synonyms

• See also Thesaurus:astonished

Translations

Verb

amazed

1. simple past tense and past participle of amaze

References

• Webster, Noah (1828) , “amazed”, in An American Dictionary of the English Language

English

Etymology

The origin of the verb is uncertain; possibly dialectal (Suffolk), from flabby or flap (“to strike”) + aghast. The word may be related to Scottish flabrigast (“to boast”) or flabrigastit (“worn out with exertion”).

The noun is derived from the verb.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /?flæb?(?)???st/
• (General American) enPR: fl?b??r-g?st', IPA^(key): /?flæb???æst/
• Hyphenation: flab?ber?gast

Verb

flabbergast (third-person singular simple present flabbergasts, present participle flabbergasting, simple past flabbergasted, past participle flabbergasted or flabbergast)

1. (transitive) To overwhelm with bewilderment; to amaze, confound, or stun, especially in a ludicrous manner. [from late 18th c.]

   Synonyms: flabbergaster; see also Thesaurus:surprise

Alternative forms

Derived terms

Translations

Noun

flabbergast (countable and uncountable, plural flabbergasts)

1. (countable) An awkward person.

   Synonyms: dork, dweeb, geek; see also Thesaurus:dork

2. (uncountable) Overwhelming confusion, shock, or surprise.

   Synonyms: astonishment, astoundedness, awe, dumbfoundedness, flabbergaster, flabbergastation, flabbergastment, stupefaction; see also Thesaurus:confusion, Thesaurus:surprise

Alternative forms

Translations

References

Further reading

• John Ogilvie and Charles Annandale, editors (1883) The Imperial Dictionary of the English Language, new edition, London: Blackie and Son; New York, N.Y.: The Century Company, OCLC 1013401246, page 285.
• “FLABBERGAST, v.” in Joseph Wright, editor, The English Dialect Dictionary: […], volume II (D–G), London: Published by Henry Frowde, […], publisher to the English Dialect Society, […]; New York, N.Y.: G. P. Putnam’s Sons, 1900, ?OCLC, page 376, column 1.
• Chrysti the Wordsmith [pseudonym; Chrysti M. Smith] (2006) Verbivore’s Feast: Second Course: More Word & Phrase Origins, Helena, Mont.: Farcountry Press, ?ISBN, page 126.