From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Surprise \Sur*prise"\, n. [F. surprise, fr. surprendre, surpris;
sur over + prendre to take, L. prehendere. See Sur-, and
Prehensile.]
1. The act of coming upon, or taking, unawares; the act of
seizing unexpectedly; surprisal; as, the fort was taken by
surprise.
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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.
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Pure surprise and fear
Made me to quit the house. --Shak.
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3. Anything that causes such a state or emotion.
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4. A dish covered with a crust of raised paste, but with no
other contents. [Obs.] --King.
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Surprise party, a party of persons who assemble by mutual
agreement, and without invitation, at the house of a
common friend. [U.S.] --Bartlett.
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Syn: Wonder; astonishment; amazement.
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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
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.
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Fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites. --Isa.
xxxiii. 14.
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The castle of Macduff I will surprise. --Shak.
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Who can speak
The mingled passions that surprised his heart?
--Thomson.
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2. To strike with wonder, astonishment, or confusion, by
something sudden, unexpected, or remarkable; to confound;
as, his conduct surprised me.
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I am surprised with an uncouth fear. --Shak.
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Up he starts,
Discovered and surprised. --Milton.
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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.
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4. To hold possession of; to hold. [Obs.]
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Not with me,
That in my hands surprise the sovereignity. --J.
Webster.
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Syn: See Astonish.
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From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
surprise
n 1: the astonishment you feel when something totally unexpected
happens to you
2: a sudden unexpected event
3: the act of surprising someone [syn: surprise, surprisal]
v 1: cause to be surprised; "The news really surprised me"
2: come upon or take unawares; "She surprised the couple"; "He
surprised an interesting scene"
3: attack by storm; attack suddenly [syn: storm, surprise]