surpris

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

Pure surprise and fear
Made me to quit the house. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Anything that causes such a state or emotion. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. A dish covered with a crust of raised paste, but with no other contents. [ Obs. ] King. [ 1913 Webster ]

Surprise party, a party of persons who assemble by mutual agreement, and without invitation, at the house of a common friend. [ U.S. ] Bartlett. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Wonder; astonishment; amazement. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

Fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites. Isa. xxxiii. 14. [ 1913 Webster ]

The castle of Macduff I will surprise. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Who can speak
The mingled passions that surprised his heart? Thomson. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To strike with wonder, astonishment, or confusion, by something sudden, unexpected, or remarkable; to confound; as, his conduct surprised me. [ 1913 Webster ]

I am surprised with an uncouth fear. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Up he starts,
Discovered and surprised. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. To hold possession of; to hold. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Not with me,
That in my hands surprise the sovereignity. J. Webster. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- See Astonish. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Surprisal. [ Obs. ] Daniel. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who surprises. [ 1913 Webster ]