surprise

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   cause to be surprised

   The news really surprised me

2. 2
   verb

   come upon or take unawares

   The relative surprised the couple with a visit.

3. 3
   noun

   Something unexpected.

   It was a surprise to find out I owed twice as much as I thought.

4. 4
   noun

   The feeling that something unexpected has happened.

   Imagine my surprise on learning I owed twice as much as I thought I did.

5. 5
   verb

   To cause (someone) to feel unusually alarmed or delighted by something unexpected.

   It surprises me that I owe twice as much as I thought I did.

6. 6
   verb

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

   He doesn’t know that I’m in the country – I thought I’d turn up at his house and surprise him.

7. 7
   verb

   To undergo or witness something unexpected.

   He doesn’t surprise easily.

8. 8
   verb

   To take unawares.

   "You were right," replied Isabella, "and I should not have surprised your confidence, had I not had something I wished to say. I know what you mean to do with Mr. Glentworth's gift—a marriage would scarcely be one without wedding-dresses—he has been equally generous to me, and you must keep the money till it is wanted, which, I hope, will be soon."

Etymology

From Middle English surprise, borrowed from Middle French surprise (“an overtake”), nominal use of the past participle of Old French sorprendre (“to overtake”), from sor- (“over”) + prendre (“to take”), from Latin super- + Latin prendere, contracted from prehendere (“to grasp, seize”). Doublet of suppli.