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Surprise   /sərprˈaɪz/  /səprˈaɪz/   Listen
noun
Surprise  n.  
1.
The act of coming upon, or taking, unawares; the act of seizing unexpectedly; surprisal; as, the fort was taken by surprise.
2.
The state of being surprised, or taken unawares, by some act or event which could not reasonably be foreseen; emotion excited by what is sudden and strange; a suddenly excited feeling of wonder or astonishment. "Pure surprise and fear Made me to quit the house."
3.
Anything that causes such a state or emotion.
4.
A dish covered with a crust of raised paste, but with no other contents. (Obs.)
Surprise party, a party of persons who assemble by mutual agreement, and without invitation, at the house of a common friend. (U.S.)
Synonyms: Wonder; astonishment; amazement.


verb
Surprise  v. t.  (past & past part. surprised; pres. part. surprising)  
1.
To come or fall suddenly and unexpectedly; to take unawares; to seize or capture by unexpected attack. "Fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites." "The castle of Macduff I will surprise." "Who can speak The mingled passions that surprised his heart?"
2.
To strike with wonder, astonishment, or confusion, by something sudden, unexpected, or remarkable; to confound; as, his conduct surprised me. "I am surprised with an uncouth fear." "Up he starts, Discovered and surprised."
3.
To lead (one) to do suddenly and without forethought; to bring (one) into some unexpected state; with into; as, to be surprised into an indiscretion; to be surprised into generosity.
4.
To hold possession of; to hold. (Obs.) "Not with me, That in my hands surprise the sovereignity."
Synonyms: See Astonish.





Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48


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"Surprise" Quotes from Famous Books



... morning of April 6th the Confederates burst through the thick woods upon the Union pickets and drove them in. It was at least partially a surprise. Grant in person was nine miles down the river. The Union officers hastily got their men into line, as the attacking columns came sweeping in after the pickets. Three of the five Union divisions were raw recruits, many of whom fled at the first fire. Some colonels led their entire regiments ...
— History of the United States, Volume 4 • E. Benjamin Andrews
... I think 'twas solely mine, indeed: But that's no matter,—paint it so; The eyes of our mother—(take good heed)— Looking not on the nestful of eggs, Nor the fluttering bird, held so fast by the legs, But straight through our faces down to our lies, And, oh, with such injured, reproachful surprise! I felt my heart bleed where that glance went, as though A ...
— Poems Teachers Ask For • Various
... with the Three Men, and the Gazette of India came in. Peythroppe found to his surprise that he had been gazetted a month's leave. Don't ask me how this was managed. I believe firmly that if Mrs. Hauksbee gave the order, the whole Great Indian Administration ...
— The Works of Rudyard Kipling One Volume Edition • Rudyard Kipling
... always endeavored to surprise their victims and strike the mortal blow without exposing themselves to danger. They seldom attack a man except when asleep or wounded, or otherwise taken at ...
— Woman on the American Frontier • William Worthington Fowler
... indications of great self-satisfaction, produced from one of his coat pockets a dark lantern, with which he had specially provided himself for the occasion, and the great mechanical beauty of which he proceeded to explain to Mr. Winkle, as they walked along, to the no small surprise of the few ...
— The Pickwick Papers • Charles Dickens


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