Surprise

Pronunciation

• RP IPA: /səˈpɹaɪz/
• US enPR: sÉ™prÄ«zʹ, IPA: /səˈpɹaɪz/, /sɚˈpɹaɪz/
• Rhymes: -aɪz

Alternative forms

• surprize US

Origin

From Middle English, from Middle French surprise ("an overtake"), from noun use of past participle of Old French surprendre ("to overtake"), from sur- ("over") + prendre ("to take"), from Latin prendere, contracted from prehendere ("to grasp, seize").

Full definition of surprise

Noun

1. Something not expected.
• 2013, Daniel Taylor, Rickie Lambert’s debut goal gives England victory over Scotland (in The Guardian, 14 August 2013)http://www.theguardian.com/football/2013/aug/14/england-scotland-international-friendlyThey had begun brightly but the opening goal was such a blow to their confidence it almost came as a surprise when Walcott, running through the inside-right channel, beat the offside trap and, checking back on to his left foot, turned a low shot beyond Allan McGregor in the Scotland goal.
• 2012, September 7, Phil McNulty, Moldova 0-5 England, England were graphically illustrating the huge gulf in class between the sides and it was no surprise when Lampard added the second just before the half hour. Steven Gerrard found his Liverpool team-mate Glen Johnson and Lampard arrived in the area with perfect timing to glide a header beyond Namasco.
2. It was a surprise to find out I owed twice as much as I thought I did.
3. (attributive) Unexpected.
   The surprise attack was devastating.
4. The feeling that something unexpected has happened.
• 1963, Margery Allingham, The China Governess Chapter 20, The story struck the depressingly familiar note with which true stories ring in the tried ears of experienced policemen....The second note, the high alarum, not so familiar and always important since it indicates the paramount sin in Man’s private calendar, took most of them by surprise although they had been well prepared.
5. Imagine my surprise on learning I owed twice as much as I thought I did.
6. (obsolete) A dish covered with a crust of raised pastry, but with no other contents.

Synonyms

• (attributively: unexpected) unexpected
• (feeling) astonishment

Derived terms

• take by surprise

Verb

1. (transitive) To cause (someone) to feel unusually alarmed or delighted.It surprises me that I owe twice as much as I thought I did.
2. (transitive) 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.
3. (intransitive) To undergo or witness something unexpected.He doesn’t surprise easily.
4. (intransitive) To cause surprise.
5. (transitive) To attack unexpectedly.
6. (transitive) To take unawares.

Adjective

1. Unexpected.
• 1913, w, Lord Stranleigh Abroad Chapter 4, “I came down like a wolf on the fold, didn’t I ?  Why didn’t I telephone ?  Strategy, my dear boy, strategy. This is a surprise attack, and I’d no wish that the garrison, forewarned, should escape. …”