Definition of "admiration"
admiration
noun
countable and uncountable, plural admirations
A positive emotion including wonder and approbation; the regarding of another as being wonderful
Quotations
For in this Instance, Life most exactly resembles the Stage, since it is often the same Person who represents the Villain and the Heroe; and he who engages your Admiration To-day, will probably attract your Contempt To-Morrow.
1749, Henry Fielding, chapter 1, in The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling, volumes (please specify |volume=I to VI), London: A[ndrew] Millar, […], book 7, pages 4-5
[…] in the towns, the storekeepers hated them because they had no money to spend. There is no shorter path to a storekeeper’s contempt, and all his admirations are exactly opposite. The town men, little bankers, hated Okies because there was nothing to gain from them.
1939 April 14, John Steinbeck, chapter 19, in The Grapes of Wrath, New York, N.Y.: The Viking Press; Compass Books edition, New York, N.Y.: The Viking Press, 1967,
(obsolete) Wondering or questioning (without any particular positive or negative attitude to the subject).
Quotations
Lear. Your name, fair gentlewoman?Goneril. This admiration, sir, is much o’ th’ savourOf other your new pranks.
c. 1603–1606, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of King Lear”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, [Act I, scene iv]
(obsolete) Cause of admiration; something to excite wonder, or pleased surprise.
Quotations
Now, good Lafeu,Bring in the admiration; that we with theeMay spend our wonder too, or take off thineBy wondering how thou took’st it.
c. 1603–1606, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of King Lear”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, [Act ALL'S WELL, scene ii], page 1