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.
Surprise party,
a party of persons who assemble by mutual agreement, and without invitation, at the
house of a common friend. [U.S.] Bartlett.
Syn. — Wonder; astonishment; amazement.
Surprise
(Sur*prise") v. t. [imp. & p. p. Surprised ; p. pr. & vb. n. Surprising.] [From Surprise,
n.: cf. F. surprendre, p. p. surpris.]
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.
Surprisement
(Sur*prise"ment) n. Surprisal. [Obs.] Daniel.
Surpriser
(Sur*pris"er) n. One who surprises.
Surprising
(Sur*pris"ing), a. Exciting surprise; extraordinary; of a nature to excite wonder and astonishment; as,
surprising bravery; a surprising escape from danger. — Sur*pris"ing*ly, adv. — Sur*pris"ing*ness, n.
Syn. — Wonderful; extraordinary; unexpected; astonishing; striking.
Surquedous
(Sur"que*dous Sur"que*drous) a. Having or exhibiting surquedry; arrogant; insolent. [Obs.]
Gower. James II. of Scot.