surprise

I. noun also surprize Etymology: Middle English suppryse exaction, seizure, from Anglo-French sousprise, supprise, from feminine of supris, surpris, suspris, past participle of surprendre & susprendre to capture, take by surprise, from sur- & sus-, suz under + prendre to take — more at prize, sous Date: 15th century 1. a. an attack made without warning b. a taking unawares 2. something that surprises 3. the state of being surprised ; astonishment II. verb also surprize (surprised; also surprized; surprising; also surprizing) Date: 15th century transitive verb 1. to attack unexpectedly; also to capture by an unexpected attack 2. a. to take unawares <

police surprised the burglars in the store

> b. to detect or elicit by a taking unawares <

sometimes surprised a tragic shadow in her eyes — Willa Cather

> 3. to strike with wonder or amazement especially because unexpected <

his conduct surprised me

> intransitive verb to cause astonishment or surprise <

her success didn't surprise

> • surpriser noun Synonyms: surprise, astonish, astound, amaze, flabbergast mean to impress forcibly through unexpectedness. surprise stresses causing an effect through being unexpected but not necessarily unusual or novel <

surprised to find them at home

>. astonish implies surprising so greatly as to seem incredible <

a discovery that astonished the world

>. astound stresses the shock of astonishment <

too astounded to respond

>. amaze suggests an effect of bewilderment <

amazed by the immense size of the place

>. flabbergast may suggest thorough astonishment and bewilderment or dismay <

flabbergasted by his angry refusal

>.