Marvel and Miracle Come From the Same Idea of Wonder
A marvel is something astonishing. Its Latin root means to wonder at, and so does the root of miracle.
A marvel is something that causes wonder. The Latin *mirari*, to wonder at, produced an unusually large family: *marvel*, *miracle*, *mirage*, *admire*, and *mirror* — which is literally a thing for looking at with wonder. The Spanish *mirar* still simply means to look.
- Something astonishing. *An engineering marvel.*
- To be astonished. *We marvelled at it.*
- Marvellous — wonderful. *A marvellous result.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | marvel | A modern marvel. |
| Plural | marvels | Technical marvels. |
| Verb | marvel | Marvel at the view. |
| Adjective | marvellous | A marvellous idea. |
| American | marvelous | Marvelous work. |
How it is used in a sentence
- They marvelled at the bridge.Verb.
- Mirror comes from the same root.A thing for wondering at.
- Marvellous has two Ls in Britain.One in America.
Words from *mirari*, to wonder
- Marvel — a wonder
- Miracle — a wondrous event
- Mirage — a wondrous illusion
- Admire — to wonder at
- Mirror — an instrument for looking
From Old French *merveille*, from Latin *mirabilia*, wonderful things, from *mirari*, to wonder at.
Are mirror and miracle related?
Yes. Both come from Latin *mirari*, to wonder at. Spanish *mirar*, to look, preserves the plainer sense.
Marvellous or marvelous?
Two Ls in British English, one in American. The pattern matches travelled and traveled.