wundorlic
The Old English word for amazing is wundorlic.
The term is used to describe something possessing uniquely wonderful qualities.
Meaning: possessing uniquely wonderful qualities (adj)
What does it mean word for word?
The word is composed of wundor, meaning wonder or marvel and the suffix -lic, meaning like or having the quality of.
Which one should you use?
While wundorlic is the default form, the form wundorlicu is used when the adjective is describing a feminine or plural noun.
How does it change in a sentence?
As an adjective, the word changes its ending based on the gender, number and case of the noun it modifies.
Did you know?
- In Old English, wundorlic could describe things that were amazing in a terrifying or supernatural way, not just in a positive sense.
- The suffix -lic in wundorlic is the direct ancestor of the modern English suffix -ly used to create adverbs like 'happily'.
- The root wundor is related to the verb 'to wonder', which originally meant to be filled with awe or fear rather than just curiosity.
Examples in context
- Se dæg is wundorlic.The day is amazing.
Example conversation
Two people are looking at a beautiful sunrise.
- ÆthelflædSāwe þū þone wundorlican sunnan upgang?Did you see the amazing sunrise?
- OsricGēa, hit is swīðe fæger.Yes, it is very beautiful.
- ÆthelflædIc lufie þis wundorlice lēoht.I love this amazing light.
- OsricMē þinceð hit is gōd.It seems good to me.
