arch. Forms: 4 astuned, 4–6 astouned, 5 astownyd, 6 astownd, 6 astound. [A phonetic development of ASTONED, astun’d, ME. (ăstu·nĕd, ăstu·nd), by lengthening and subsequent diphthongizing of the u, as happened in bound, found, ground, round, OE. bunden, funden, grund, OF. rond. The result was to dissociate astūnd, astound from astone, astun, and to make it appear as an independent adjective.]
† 1. Stunned, stupefied. Obs.
c. 1315. Shoreham, 88. Ase a mesel ther he lay Astouned in spote and blode.
c. 1330. Arth. & Merl., 6297. Hors and man astuned lay.
1596. Spenser, F. Q., I. ix. 35. His hollow eyne Lookt deadly dull, and stared as astound.
2. Confounded, distracted; amazed; astounded. arch.
c. 1440. Generydes, 4013. Where with the Sowdon was astownyd sore.
1596. Spenser, F. Q., I. viii. 5. With staring countenance … as one astownd.
1600. Fairfax, Tasso, XIX. lxv. Vafrine … with griefe and care Remain’d astound.
1633. P. Fletcher, Purple Isl., XII. xl. Earth astound, Bids dogs with houls give warning.
1810. Scott, Lady of L., II. xxxi. Ellen, dizzy and astound As sudden ruin yawned around.
1881. Rossetti, Bal. & Sonn., 126. Astound of the fearful sight.
