The Oxford English Dictionary defines the word "marvel" as follows:
1. = MIRACLE .
2. a. A wonderful or astonishing thing; a cause of surprise, admiration, or wonder; a wonder. b. A wonderful tale or legend; a description of a wonderful event or thing. c. A wonderful example of something. d. Chiefly poet. Wonderfulness.
3. Astonishment, surprise, admiration, wonder.
Would you agree or disagree with this definition? How might we add to or alter this definition to come up with a working definition of this term for the purposes of our course? Can we come up with a single definition, rather than a 1-3 type of definition?
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
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3 comments:
The dictionary definition of marvel includes most of what I think of when I hear the word "marvel," though I have noticed that people in modern times tend to use the term quite often to refer to physical wonders. Perhaps attaching such an appellation of awe to tangible things adds an even more fantastic quality to them in the eyes of the viewer.
What is a marvel? Well, How about the capacity of the human mind to perceive, imagine, theorize, observe, explain, justify, deny, conmiserate, desire, construct, destroy, improve,reminesce, engage, endear, uplift, support, create,love .......?
I think that the definition is mostly accurate. The only part I saw that wasn't included was beauty. There are so many marvels in this world, or out of it, which don't fit into the definition found in the Oxford Dictionary. Something so simple as a rose could be considered a marvel because of its sheer beauty. There is no way to come up with one single definition; "marvel" has so many meanings and different definitions depending on who you interact with.
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