Gazed

Part of speech: verb

Pronunciation: /ɡeɪzd/

Definitions

1. Looked fixedly and attentively at something, often with admiration or interest
2. Directed one's eyes steadily toward an object or scene, showing focus or contemplation
3. Held one's gaze on a particular point or subject, usually with concentration or wonder

Etymology: "Gazed" is simply the past tense and past participle of "gaze," so its story is the story of that verb. "Gaze" comes from Middle English "gasen," and the verb's roots reach toward a sense of startled wonder rather than calm looking. Its relatives in other languages hint at this older meaning: Swedish dialect "gasa" and the Gothic "usgaisjan," which meant "to terrify." The shared idea is of being struck or unsettled by something seen, the eyes held fixed in alarm or amazement. Over time the sharp edge of fear softened into a steady, prolonged kind of looking, the sort done in wonder, admiration or deep thought. That is the sense "gazed" carries today: to look at something for a long while with the attention held fast.

Synonyms: looked, stared, glanced, observed, watched

Antonyms: ignored, overlooked, disregarded, dismissed, averted