Chapter Surgeful to Surrender of S by Webster's Dictionary (1913 Edition)

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.