I. noun
also sur·prize sə(r)-ˈprīz
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
( sur·prised also sur·prized ; sur·pris·ing also sur·priz·ing )
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
• sur·pris·er 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