from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Marvelous \Mar"vel*ous\, 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.
Usage: {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]