| Figure Name | thaumasmus |
| Source | Silva Rhetoricae (http://humanities.byu.edu/rhetoric/Silva.htm); Peacham (1593); Bullinger (1898) ("thaumasmos; or, wondering") |
| Earliest Source | None |
| Synonyms | wondering, admiratio, thaumasmos |
| Etymology | Gk. "a marvelling" |
| Type | Trope |
| Linguistic Domain |
Semantic |
| Definition |
1. To marvel at something rather than to state it in a matter of fact way. (Silva Rhetoricae) 2. Thaumasmus in Latine Admiratio, is a forme of speech, by which the Orator declareth how much hee marvelleth at something as either why a thing is done, or left undone, or at some strange effect, whose secret cause maketh him to wonder. (Peacham) 3. An Expression of Feeling by way of Wonder... The figure is used when, instead of describing or stating a thing as a matter of fact, it is expressed in the form of marvelling at it, either directly or by implication. (Bullinger, 900) |
| Example |
1. I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel. —Galatians 1:6 (Silva Rhetoricae) 2. He doth great things, and unsearcheable, yea marvellous things without number. (Job.9.10. qtd in Peacham) 2. O the deepenes of the riches, of the wisedome and knowledge of God, & c. (Rom.11. qtd in Peacham) 3. Matt. 8:10. -"When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel." (Bullinger, 900) |
| Kind Of | |
| Part Of | |
| Related Figures | figures of exclamation |
| Notes | "The vertue of this Figure is very great and Emphaticall in a prudent Orator, and serveth to sundry and excellent purposes, as in praising highly persons or things: As when the Orator declareth his admiration at their goodnesse and excellency." (Peacham) |
| Confidence | Unconfident |
| Last Editor | Ioanna Malton |
| Confidence | Unconfident |
| Editorial Notes | |
| Reviewed | No |