GNU Collaborative International Dictionary of English

Found 2 definitions

  1.       
    marvellous adj.  Marvelous.

    Syn. -- improbable, marvelous, tall(prenominal).

    [WordNet 1.5]

  2.       
    Marvelous (?), a. [OE. merveillous, OF. merveillos, F. Merveilleux. See Marvel, n.] [Written also marvellous.]
    1. Exciting wonder or surprise; astonishing; wonderful.

    [1913 Webster]

    This is the Lord's doing; it is marvelous in our eyes. Ps. cxiii. 23.

    [1913 Webster]


    2. Partaking of the character of miracle, or supernatural power; incredible; so improbable as to defy belief.

    [1913 Webster +PJC]

    The marvelous fable includes whatever is supernatural, and especially the machines of the gods. Pope.

    [1913 Webster]

    The marvelous, that which exceeds natural power, or is preternatural; that which is wonderful; -- opposed to the probable.

    [1913 Webster]

    Syn. -- Wonderful; astonishing; surprising; strange; improbable; incredible. -- Marvelous, Wonderful. We speak of a thing as wonderful when it awakens our surprise and admiration; as marvelous when it is so much out of the ordinary course of things as to seem nearly or quite incredible.

    [1913 Webster]