different between astound vs electrify

English

Etymology

From Middle English astouned, astoned, astuned, past participle of astounen, astonen, astunen (“to astonish”). More at astonish.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /??sta?nd/
• Rhymes: -a?nd

Verb

astound (third-person singular simple present astounds, present participle astounding, simple past and past participle astounded)

1. To astonish, bewilder or dazzle.
   • 1637, John Milton, Comus, London: Humphrey Robinson, p. 8,^[1]

     These thoughts may startle well, but not astound

     The vertuous mind […]

   • 1820, Walter Scott, Ivanhoe, Chapter 22,^[2]

     The yell which Isaac raised at this unfeeling communication made the very vault to ring, and astounded the two Saracens so much that they let go their hold of the Jew.

   • 1848, Elizabeth Gaskell, Mary Barton, Chapter 6,^[3]

     The vices of the poor sometimes astound us here; but when the secrets of all hearts shall be made known, their virtues will astound us in far greater degree. Of this I am certain.

   • 1982, Paul Auster, “On the High Wire” in The Art of Hunger, Los Angeles: Sun & Moon Press, 1992, p. 240,^[4]

     A young man had strung a wire between the towers of Notre-Dame Cathedral and walked and juggled and danced on it for three hours, astounding the crowds of people below.

Derived terms

• astoundable
• astounded
• astounder
• astounding

Translations

Adjective

astound (comparative more astound, superlative most astound)

1. (obsolete) Stunned; astounded; astonished.
   • 1590, Edmund Spenser, The Faerie Queene, London: William Ponsonbie, Book 1, Canto 9, p. 129,^[5]

     […] his hollow eyne

     Lookt deadly dull, and stared as astound;

   • 1760, George Alexander Stevens, The History of Tom Fool, London: T. Waller, Volume 2, Chapter 2, p. 9,^[6]

     For some Moments the Esquire stood astound, he rubb’d his Eyes, look’d on his Sister, stared at the Maid:

   • 1810, Walter Scott, The Lady of the Lake, Edinburgh: John Ballantyne, Canto 2, Stanza 31, p. 36,^[7]

     Thus Ellen, dizzy and astound,

     As sudden ruin yawned around,

     By crossing terrors wildly tossed,

     Still for the Douglas fearing most,

     Could scarce the desperate thought withstand,

     To buy his safety with her hand.

Further reading

• astound in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• astound in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.
• astound at OneLook Dictionary Search

English

Etymology

From electric +? -ify

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /??l?kt??fa?/

Verb

electrify (third-person singular simple present electrifies, present participle electrifying, simple past and past participle electrified)

1. (transitive) To supply electricity to; to charge with electricity.

2. (transitive) To cause electricity to pass through; to affect by electricity; to give an electric shock to.

3. (transitive) To adapt (a home, farm, village, city, industry, railroad) for electric power.
4. (transitive) To strongly excite, especially by something delightful or inspiring; to thrill.

   Her performance in the play electrified the audience.

   • 1848, Thomas Babington Macaulay, The History of England from the Accession of James II Chapter I

     If the sovereign were now to immure a subject in defiance of the writ of habeas corpus […] the whole nation would be instantly electrified by the news.
5. (intransitive) To become electric.

Derived terms

• electrification

Related terms

• electric
• electricity

Translations

Further reading

• electrify in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• electrify in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.
• electrify at OneLook Dictionary Search