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.
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.
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.
Hear it pronounced