n.
- a feeling of mild astonishment or shock caused by something unexpected.
- an unexpected or astonishing thing.
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[as modifier]
Bell-ringing denoting a complex method of change-ringing:
surprise major.
v.
- cause to feel surprise.
- capture, attack, or discover suddenly and unexpectedly.
Phrase
Derivative
- surprised adj.
- surprisedly adv.
- surprising adj.
- surprisingly adv.
- surprisingness n.
Etymology
ME (in the sense ‘unexpected seizure or attack’): from OFr., fem. past part. of surprendre, from med. L. superprehendere ‘seize’.