[f. WONDER sb. + WORKER.] One who performs wonders or marvelous things; esp. a worker of miracles; a thaumaturge.
1599. Sandys, Europæ Spec. (1632), 169. Some of their better Prælates have removed … an image of our Lady, upon the broaching of a report that it discovered it selfe for a Wonder-worker.
1641. S. Fawcet, Seasonable Serm., 17. The praying generation are the wonder-workers of the world.
1668. H. More, Div. Dial., III. xix. 427. That he may be accounted a stupendious Wonder-worker, a Creatour of his Creatour.
1718. Atterbury, Serm., Acts xxvi. 20 (1734), I. 18. In China and Japan these Wonder-workers may pretend to have done as many Miracles as they please.
1856. Miss Yonge, Daisy Chain, II. xviii. (1879), 546. A wonderworker in cloth.
1878. Bosw. Smith, Carthage, 375. Hannibal here, if here only, taking his place as the supposed founder of mighty cities, among the great wall-builders and wonder-workers of Eastern history and legend.
1895. Fr. Marianus, St. Anthony of Padua, 145. The saintly Friar, the Wonder-worker filled with love and sympathy.
So Wonder-working ppl. a.
1594. Selimus, 284. Your wisdomes ouerflowing wit, Digs deepe with learnings wonder-working spade.
1644. Vicars, God in Mount, 190. To the high honour of our great and wonder-working God.
1679. Hist. Jetzer, 18. They fall down before this wonder-working Image.
1710. Broome, Paraphr. Habakkuk iii. iii. Waving his Wonder-working Wand.
1776. Burney, Hist. Mus., I. 194. The music of Orpheus, Amphion, and such wonder-working bards.
1809. W. Irving, Knickerb., I. ii. (1861), 10. The wonder-working sword of Harlequin.
1847. Keble, Serm., x. 270. In the mysterious and wonder-working Prayer of Consecration.
1895. Catholic Mag., Aug., 228. There came … the wonder-working body of St. Cuthbert.
