■ noun
1》 a feeling of mild astonishment or shock caused by something unexpected.
2》 an unexpected or astonishing thing.
3》 [as modifier ] Bell-ringing denoting a complex method of change-ringing: ~ major.
■ verb
1》 cause to feel ~.
2》 capture, attack, or discover suddenly and unexpectedly.
Phrases
take someone/thing by ~ attack or capture someone or something unexpectedly.
↘( take someone by ~ ) happen unexpectedly to someone.
Derivatives
~d adjective
~dly adverb
surprising adjective
surprisingly adverb
surprisingness noun
Origin
ME (in the sense 'unexpected seizure or attack'): from OFr., feminine past participle of surprendre , from med. L. superprehendere 'seize'.