meravigliate

Meravigliate is a form of the Italian verb meravigliare, meaning to astonish or to marvel. Specifically, it is the second person plural present indicative form and also the imperative form for the pronoun voi. In use, it can denote either a statement about what you all astonish someone else, or a command to you all to astonish or marvel.

As a verb, meravigliare belongs to the regular -are conjugation. Its present indicative forms include meraviglio, meravigli, meraviglia, meravigliamo, meravigliate, meravigliano. The imperative forms for voi are meravigliate, while the informal tu form is meraviglia and the formal Lei form is meravigli (the latter follows standard Italian imperative patterns for -are verbs). The verb takes a direct object to indicate what is astonished, for example: La mostra meraviglia i visitatori (The exhibition astonishes the visitors).

The reflexive counterpart meravigliarsi means to marvel or to be astonished oneself, as in Mi meraviglio di questa notizia (I am astonished by this news). The noun meraviglia denotes a marvel or wonder, and related adjectives include meraviglioso, meaning wonderful or marvelous.

Etymology traces meravigliare to the noun meraviglia (wonder), itself linked to Latin roots related to mirabilia or mirari, indicating something worthy of marvel. The verb developed in Italian to express causing wonder, with meravigliate representing the second-person plural form or command in contemporary usage.

See also: meraviglia, meraviglioso, meravigliarsi.