Lexic.us

Definition of Surprise

1. Verb. Cause to be surprised. "The good news will surprise her"; "The news really surprised me"

2. Noun. The astonishment you feel when something totally unexpected happens to you.

3. Verb. Come upon or take unawares. "Sam cannot surprise Sue "; "He surprised an interesting scene"

4. Noun. A sudden unexpected event.

5. Verb. Attack by storm; attack suddenly. "They surprise the hill"

6. Noun. The act of surprising someone.

Definition of Surprise

1. n. The act of coming upon, or taking, unawares; the act of seizing unexpectedly; surprisal; as, the fort was taken by surprise.

2. v. t. To come or fall suddenly and unexpectedly; to take unawares; to seize or capture by unexpected attack.

Definition of Surprise

1. Noun. Something not expected. ¹

2. Noun. (attributive) Unexpected. ¹

3. Noun. The feeling that something unexpected has happened. ¹

4. Verb. (transitive) To cause (someone) to feel unusually alarmed or delighted. ¹

5. Verb. (transitive) To do something to (a person) that they are not expecting, as a surprise. ¹

6. Verb. (intransitive) To undergo or witness something unexpected. ¹

7. Verb. (intransitive) To cause surprise. ¹

8. Verb. (transitive) To attack unexpectedly. ¹

9. Verb. (transitive) To take unawares. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Surprise

1. to come upon unexpectedly [v -PRISED, -PRISING, -PRISES]

Lexicographical Neighbors of Surprise

surplusages surplused surpluses surplusing surplussed surplusses surplussing surprint surprinted surprinting

surprints surpris'd surprisable surprisal surprisals surprise (current term) surprise attack surprise party surprise surprise surprised

surprisedly surpriser surprisers surprises surprising surprisingly surprisingness surprize surprized

Literary usage of Surprise

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. On War by Carl von Clausewitz, James John Graham, Frederic Natusch Maude (1908)
"CHAPTER IX THE surprise FROM the subject of the foregoing chapter, the general endeavour to attain a relative superiority, there follows another endeavour ..."

2. The woman in white by Wilkie Collins (1871)
""Listen to the last sentences of the letter," said Miss Halcombe. " ! think they will surprise you." As she raised the letter to the light of the candle, ..."

3. Macbeth by William Shakespeare, William George Clark, William Aldis Wright (1878)
"And even now, To crown my thoughts with acts, be it thought and done : The castle of Macduff I will surprise; 150 Seize upon Fife; give to the edge o' the ..."

4. On War by Carl von Clausewitz, James John Graham, Frederic Natusch Maude (1908)
"CHAPTER IX THE surprise FROM the subject of the foregoing chapter, the general endeavour to attain a relative superiority, there follows another endeavour ..."

5. The woman in white by Wilkie Collins (1871)
""Listen to the last sentences of the letter," said Miss Halcombe. " ! think they will surprise you." As she raised the letter to the light of the candle, ..."

6. Macbeth by William Shakespeare, William George Clark, William Aldis Wright (1878)
"And even now, To crown my thoughts with acts, be it thought and done : The castle of Macduff I will surprise; 150 Seize upon Fife; give to the edge o' the ..."

Other Resources: