astound

Etymology

From Middle English astouned, astoned, astuned, past participle of astounen, astonen, astunen (“to astonish”). More at astonish.

verb

1. To astonish, bewilder or dazzle.
   1637, John Milton, Comus, London: Humphrey Robinson, p. 8, These thoughts may startle well, but not astound The vertuous mind […]
   The yell which Isaac raised at this unfeeling communication made the very vault to ring, and astounded the two Saracens so much that they let go their hold of the Jew. 1820, Walter Scott, chapter 22, in Ivanhoe
   The vices of the poor sometimes astound us here; but when the secrets of all hearts shall be made known, their virtues will astound us in far greater degree. Of this I am certain. 1848, Elizabeth Gaskell, chapter 6, in Mary Barton
   1982, Paul Auster, “On the High Wire” in The Art of Hunger, Los Angeles: Sun & Moon Press, 1992, p. 240, A young man had strung a wire between the towers of Notre-Dame Cathedral and walked and juggled and danced on it for three hours, astounding the crowds of people below.

adj

1. (obsolete) Stunned; astounded; astonished.
   For some Moments the Esquire stood astound, he rubb’d his Eyes, look’d on his Sister, stared at the Maid: 1760, George Alexander Stevens, chapter 2, in The History of Tom Fool, volume 2, London: T. Waller, page 9