Noun

(uncountable) The condition of being amazed; overwhelming wonder, as from surprise, sudden fear, horror, or admiration; astonishment.

* {{quote-book, year=1963, author=(Margery Allingham), title=(The China Governess)

, chapter=9 citation , passage=Eustace gaped at him in amazement . When his urbanity dropped away from him, as now, he had an innocence of expression which was almost infantile. It was as if the world had never touched him at all.}}

(countable, archaic) A particular feeling of wonder, surprise, fear, or horror.

* 1682 , , The fiery tryal no strange thing , Samuel Sewell, Boston, p. 16,

Were believers thoroughly persuaded of what God meaneth, by these things, they would not be so liable to those frights and amazements which distract and disturb them.

* 1791 , "Character of the faithful Man," in Aphorisms concerning the Assurance of Faith , W. Young, Philadelphia, p. 60,

In the midst of ill rumours and amazements , his countenance changeth not.

* 1853 , , Villette , ch. 41,

Certain points, crises, certain feelings, joys, griefs and amazements , when reviewed, must strike us as things wildered and whirling.

(countable, dated) Something which amazes.

* 1913 , , The Valley of the Moon , ch. 21,

So impossible did it seem that such an amazement of horse-flesh could ever be hers.

* 1918 , , "The Urchin at the Zoo," in Mince Pie ,

I believe the Urchin showed more enthusiasm over the stone and the robin than over any of the amazements that succeeded them.

(obsolete) Madness, frenzy.

Noun

(en-noun)

(uncountable, countable) Eager or inordinate desire for some object that confers distinction, as preferment, honor, superiority, political power, or literary fame; desire to distinguish one's self from other people.

My son, John, wants to be a firefighter very much. He has a lot of ambition .

* Burke

the pitiful ambition of possessing five or six thousand more acres

(countable) An object of an ardent desire.

My ambition is to own a helicopter.

A desire, as in (sense 1), for another person to achieve these things.

(uncountable) A personal quality similar to motivation, not necessarily tied to a single goal.

(obsolete) The act of going about to solicit or obtain an office, or any other object of desire; canvassing.

* Milton

[I] used no ambition to commend my deeds.