surprise Meaning, Definition & Usage

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

WordNet


Sur*prise" noun
Etymology
F. surprise, fr. surprendre, surpris; sur over + prendre to take, L. prehendere. See Sur-, and Prehensile.
Definitions
  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. Shak.
  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. King. Syn. -- Wonder; astonishment; amazement.
Sur*prise" transitive verb
Etymology
From Surprise, n.: cf. F. surprendre, p.p. surpris.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Surprised ; present participle & verbal noun Surprising
Definitions
  1. 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.
  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. Shak.
    Up he starts, Discovered and surprised. Milton.
  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. J. Webster.
    Syn. -- See Astonish.

Webster 1913