surprise Meaning, Definition & Usage

noun the astonishment you feel when something totally unexpected happens to you
noun a sudden unexpected event
noun the act of surprising someone
surprisal.
verb cause to be surprised
- The news really surprised me
verb come upon or take unawares
- She surprised the couple
- He surprised an interesting scene
verb attack by storm; attack suddenly
storm.

F. surprise, fr. surprendre, surpris; sur over + prendre to take, L. prehendere. See Sur-, and Prehensile.

The act of coming upon, or taking, unawares; the act of seizing unexpectedly; surprisal; as, the fort was taken by surprise.
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. Shak.
Anything that causes such a state or emotion.
A dish covered with a crust of raised paste, but with no other contents. Obs. King. Syn. -- Wonder; astonishment; amazement.

From Surprise, n.: cf. F. surprendre, p.p. surpris.

imperfect & past participle Surprised ; present participle & verbal noun Surprising

To come or fall suddenly and unexpectedly; to take unawares; to seize or capture by unexpected attack.
Fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites. Isa. xxxiii. 14.

The castle of Macduff I will surprise. Shak.

Who can speak The mingled passions that surprised his heart? Thomson.
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. Shak.

Up he starts, Discovered and surprised. Milton.
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.
To hold possession of; to hold. Obs.
Not with me, That in my hands surprise the sovereignity. J. Webster.
Syn. -- See Astonish.