Meaning & History
From the English word meaning "miracle" and/or "wonderful story or legend", derived from Old French merveille "a wonder", from Latin mirabilia "wonderful things", which is the neuter plural form of mirabilis "strange or wonderful, admirable, amazing", from mirari "to wonder at", from mirus "wonderful" (the word "smile" shares this root). The verb ("to marvel") is attested from c.1300.