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. -- 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 ]