Word Direct Answers

What does "surprise" mean?

Surprise: 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.

Additional senses

  1. 2.Anything that causes such a state or emotion.
  2. 3.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.
  3. 4.To come or fall suddenly and unexpectedly; to take unawares; to seize or capture by unexpected attack. Fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites. Isa. xxxiii.
  4. 5.The castle of Macduff I will surprise. Shak. Who can speak The mingled passions that surprised his heart Thomson.
  5. 6.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.
  6. 7.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.
  7. 8.To hold possession of; to hold. [Obs.] Not with me, That in my hands surprise the sovereignity. J. Webster.

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