Stupendous
/stjuːˈpɛn.dəs/noun
Extremely impressive or astonishing.
Did you know?Its Latin ancestor, *stupēre*, meant “to be stunned, benumbed, or amazed,” so the word originally carried the eerie feeling of being mentally struck silent.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*steup-
“to be stunned, dazed, or struck dumb”
Latin
LA
stupēre
“to be stunned, amazed, or benumbed”
Latin
LA
stupendus
“to be wondered at; astonishing”
Late Latin
LL
stupendus
“worthy of astonishment”
16th Century
English
stupendous
“astonishing; marvelous; causing wonder”
Modern English
EN
stupendous
“extremely impressive or astounding”