The spelling of "am astonished" is determined by its pronunciation. In the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA), this phrase is transcribed as /æm əˈstɒnɪʃt/. The first sound represented by /æ/ is the short 'a' sound in "am." The /ə/ sound is a schwa, a short, unstressed vowel sound, in "am" and "astonished." The stress in the word falls on the second syllable, represented by /ˈstɒnɪʃt/, with the 'o' sound in "astonished" pronounced as /ɒ/. This spelling accurately reflects the pronunciation of this phrase.
I apologize, but "am astonished" is not listed as a standalone phrase in the dictionary. However, I can provide a definition for "astonished" to help you understand its meaning.
Astonished is an adjective that describes a feeling of great surprise or astonishment. It is used to express a state of being extremely amazed or shocked by something unexpected or extraordinary. When one is astonished, they experience a sense of disbelief or wonderment at what they have witnessed or learned. This feeling of astonishment often involves being taken aback or caught off guard by an event, news, or an extraordinary achievement.
The term "am astonished" can be interpreted as a simplified expression of this emotion, indicating that the speaker themselves is the one experiencing the state of astonishment. It is often used in the first-person present tense to convey a strong and immediate reaction to an unexpected situation or revelation. However, it is more common to see "I am astonished" rather than just "am astonished," as the first-person pronoun "I" is generally used for clarification and to indicate personal involvement.
Overall, "am astonished" can be understood as an expression of deep surprise or shock, conveying the speaker's personal experience of being amazed or astounded by something unexpected.
The etymology of the word "astonished" comes from the Middle English word "astonien", which was derived from the Old French word "estoner" meaning "to stun" or "to stupefy". It further traces back to the Latin word "extonare", which combines "ex-" (out) and "tonare" (to thunder) to signify being struck with thunder or a loud noise. Over time, "astonish" evolved to mean being amazed, surprised, or taken aback by something unexpected.