wonder

won|der¹ W2S1 [ˈwʌndə US -ər] v [I and T]

1.) to think about something that you are not sure about and try to guess what is true, what will happen etc

wonder who/what/how etc

▪ I wonder how James is getting on.

▪ What are they going to do now, I wonder ?

wonder if/whether

▪ I wonder if I'll recognize Philip after all these years.

▪ He's been leaving work early a lot - it makes you wonder , doesn't it?

2.) I wonder if/whether

spoken used to ask politely for something

= ↑may I

▪ I wonder if I might have a drink?

3.) I was wondering if/whether

a) spoken used to politely ask someone to help you

▪ I was wondering if I could borrow your car?

b) used to ask someone politely if they would like to do something

▪ I was wondering if you'd like to come to dinner.

4.) to feel surprised and unable to believe something

wonder about/at

▪ Sometimes I wonder about his behaviour.

wonder how

▪ I wonder how he dares to show his face!

I don't wonder

BrE (=I am not surprised)

▪ I don't wonder you're tired.

I shouldn't wonder

BrE (=I would not be surprised about something)

▪ He'll come back soon enough, I shouldn't wonder.

5.) to doubt or question whether something is true

▪ 'Is she serious?' 'I wonder.'

wonder if/whether

▪ Sometimes I wonder if he's got any sense at all!

wonder ²

wonder² n

▬▬▬▬▬▬▬

1¦(admiration)¦

2 (it's) no/small/little wonder (that)

3¦(surprising)¦

4 do/work wonders

5 wonders will never cease

6¦(clever person)¦

▬▬▬▬▬▬▬

[: Old English; Origin: wundor]

1.) ¦(ADMIRATION)¦

a) [U]

a feeling of surprise and admiration for something very beautiful or new to you

= ↑awe

▪ The sight of the Taj Mahal filled us with wonder.

b)

something that makes you feel surprise and admiration

▪ technological wonders

▪ the Seven Wonders of the World

2.) (it's) no/small/little wonder (that)

especially spoken used to say that you are not surprised by something

▪ No wonder you've got a headache, the amount you drank last night.

3.) ¦(SURPRISING)¦

it's a wonder (that)

especially spoken used to say that something is very surprising

▪ It's a wonder no one got hurt.

4.) do/work wonders

to be very effective in solving a problem

5.) wonders will never cease

spoken used humorously to show you are surprised and pleased about something

6.) ¦(CLEVER PERSON)¦ [singular]

BrE someone who is good at doing difficult things

→nine days wonder at ↑nine

wonder ³

wonder³ adj [only before noun]

very good and effective

▪ a new wonder drug