different between marvel vs masterpiece

English

Alternative forms

• marvail, marvell (obsolete)

Etymology

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”).

Pronunciation

• (General American) IPA^(key): /?m??vl?/
• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /?m??vl?/
• Rhymes: -??(?)v?l
• Hyphenation: mar?vel

Noun

marvel (plural marvels)

1. That which causes wonder; a prodigy; a miracle.
2. Wonder, astonishment.

Derived terms

• marvelous, marvellous

Translations

Verb

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.
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.
   • 15th century, Anonymous, Richard the Redeless

     But much now me marvelleth.

Translations

Anagrams

• vermal

English

Alternative forms

• master-piece (obsolete)

Etymology

master +? piece, a calque of Dutch meesterstuk.

Pronunciation

• (General American) IPA^(key): /?mæst??pis/
• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /?m??st??pi?s/

Noun

masterpiece (plural masterpieces)

1. A piece of work that has been given much critical praise, especially one that is considered the greatest work of a person's career.
   • 1911, Saki, The Chronicles of Clovis

     The design, when finally developed, was a slight disappointment to Monsieur Deplis, who had suspected Icarus of being a fortress taken by Wallenstein in the Thirty Years' War, but he was more than satisfied with the execution of the work, which was acclaimed by all who had the privilege of seeing it as Pincini's masterpiece.

2. A work of outstanding creativity, skill or workmanship.
3. A work created in order to qualify as a master craftsman and member of a guild.

Synonyms

• chef d'œuvre
• masterwork

Related terms

• mistresspiece

Translations