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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



... Immigration.—In all this there was, strictly speaking, no cause for surprise. Since the foundation of our republic the policy of the government had been to encourage the coming of the alien. For nearly one hundred years no restraining act was passed by Congress, while two important ...
— History of the United States • Charles A. Beard and Mary R. Beard
... so far as I know. I'm a poor correspondent, especially when I've no good news to tell; and anyway, the mere sight of a pen ties my tongue. I'm just running down to surprise Letty." ...
— The Romance of a Christmas Card • Kate Douglas Wiggin
... a deep silence among the men. The proposal took them by surprise. No man had ever accomplished the journey. Though two parties similarly attacked by Indians had attempted to raft down some of the canons higher up; one party perished to a man, one survivor of the other party escaped to tell the tale; but as to the canons below, through which ...
— In The Heart Of The Rockies • G. A. Henty
... shrewd enough to understand that this is a case for the maximum stake. Strong in his faith in my principle he sees Likely Case win with little surprise. ...
— Punch, or the London Charivari, Volume 159, December 1, 1920 • Various
... many unlooked-for treasures that are bound up and hidden away in the depths of Sierra solitudes, none more surely charm and surprise all kinds of travelers than the glacier lakes. The forests and the glaciers and the snowy fountains of the streams advertise their wealth in a more or less telling manner even in the distance, but nothing is seen of the lakes until we have ...
— The Mountains of California • John Muir


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