Origin:
The word "amazing" comes from the Middle English word "amazen", which itself comes from the Old French word "esmaiser". This Old French word has two primary sources:
* "es-" meaning "out" or "from"
* "maiser" meaning "to stun" or "to amaze"
Evolution:
The word "amazen" evolved into "amazing" through a process called "back-formation". This is where a new word is created by removing a suffix from an existing word. In this case, the suffix "-ing" was removed from "amazen" to create "amazing".
Meaning:
The original meaning of "amazen" was to "stun" or "overwhelm" someone with awe or surprise. This meaning evolved over time to the current one of "causing wonder or admiration", highlighting the power of the word to describe something truly remarkable.
In a nutshell:
"Amazing" comes from the idea of being "stunned" or "overwhelmed" by something, with its roots tracing back to Old French and ultimately to the concept of being struck with awe.