verwunderlicher

Verwunderlicher is the comparative form of the German adjective verwunderlich, meaning more astonishing, remarkable, or strange. The base adjective can denote either oddity or surprise depending on the context; in many uses verwunderlich emphasizes something that provokes wonder or surprise.

Etymology and form: verwunderlich is formed from the verb verwundern (to astonish) with the suffix -lich, producing an adjective that denotes a quality. The comparative is created with the ending -er, yielding verwunderlicher. The development of this form traces back to early modern German, and today it appears mainly in written, often literary, language.

Usage: In contemporary standard German, verwunderlich is considered somewhat formal or literary and is less common in everyday speech. The comparative verwunderlicher is used when comparing two phenomena in terms of their degree of astonishment or oddity, typically in descriptive or critical prose. For everyday expression, speakers often prefer synonyms such as merkwürdig, erstaunlich, or ungewöhnlich, depending on nuance.

Examples: Der Befund ist verwunderlicher als erwartet. Es ist verwunderlicher, wie schnell er reagierte, als man dachte. These examples illustrate how the word conveys a heightened sense of astonishment or peculiarity in comparison.

See also: verwunderlich, merkwürdig, erstaunlich, sonderbar.