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

(perplexities)

The state or quality of being perplexed; puzzled or confused.

Something that perplexes.

* 1942 , Rebecca West, Black Lamb and Grey Falcon (Canongate 2006), page 149:

The Emperor, who was by then a focus of unresolvable perplexities , stood providing a strongly contrary appearance.

A measurement in information theory: see (Perplexity).