maravillaba

Maravillaba is the imperfect indicative form of the Spanish verb maravillar. It can correspond to yo maravillaba or él/ella/Ud. maravillaba, depending on the subject, and is used to describe past actions or states. In usage, it often expresses habitual or ongoing past events, or a state of astonishment caused by something.

Etymology and meaning: maravillar comes from maravilla, meaning wonder or astonishment, which in turn derives from Latin mirabilia. The verb conveys the sense of causing wonder in others (transitive use) or experiencing wonder oneself (often with the object as the thing that provokes astonishment). Related forms include maravillar (to astonish) and maravillarse (to marvel, be astonished).

Usage notes: In the imperfect, maravillaba typically marks repeated or continuous past actions or descriptions. With a direct object, it means “I/you/he/she used to astonish [someone].” With a subject that is something like “la belleza,” it can mean “the beauty astonished me.” Common constructions include me/te/le nos os les maravillaba ver…, or La ciudad me maravillaba con sus vistas.

Conjugation (imperfect indicative, regular -ar verb): yo maravillaba; tú maravillabas; él/ella/Ud. maravillaba; nosotros maravillábamos; vosotros maravillabais; ellos/ellas/Uds. maravillaban.

Examples: La belleza de la ciudad me maravillaba. Yo maravillaba a la audiencia con mis historias. Me maravillaba ver la habilidad de los artistas.