surprise

English

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Alternative forms

Etymology

From Middle English, from Middle French surprise (“an overtake”), from noun use of past participle of Old French surprendre (“to overtake”), from sur- (“over”) + prendre (“to take”), from Latin prendere, contracted from prehendere (“to grasp, seize”)

Pronunciation

Noun

surprise (plural surprises)

  1. Something not expected.
    It was a surprise to find out I owed twice as much as I thought I did.
    • 2012 September 7, Phil McNulty, “Moldova 0-5 England”, BBC Sport:
      England were graphically illustrating the huge gulf in class between the sides and it was no surprise when Lampard added the second just before the half hour. Steven Gerrard found his Liverpool team-mate Glen Johnson and Lampard arrived in the area with perfect timing to glide a header beyond Namasco.
  2. (attributive) Unexpected.
    The surprise attack was devastating.
  3. The feeling that something unexpected has happened.
    Imagine my surprise on learning I owed twice as much as I thought I did.

Synonyms

Derived terms

  • take by surprise

Translations

something not expected
attributively: that is unexpected
feeling that something unexpected has happened
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Verb

surprise (third-person singular simple present surprises, present participle surprising, simple past and past participle surprised)

  1. (transitive) To cause (someone) to feel unusually alarmed or delighted.
    It surprises me that I owe twice as much as I thought I did.
  2. (transitive) To do something to (a person) that they are not expecting, as a surprise.
    He doesn't know that I'm in the country - I thought I'd turn up at his house and surprise him.
  3. (intransitive) To undergo or witness something unexpected.
    He doesn't surprise easily.
  4. (intransitive) To cause surprise.
  5. (transitive) To attack unexpectedly.
  6. (transitive) To take unawares.

Translations

cause (someone) to feel surprise
do something to (a person) that they are not expecting, as a surprise

Adjective

surprise (not comparable)

  1. Unexpected.
    • 1913, Robert Barr, chapter 4, Lord Stranleigh Abroad[1]:
      “I came down like a wolf on the fold, didn’t I ?  Why didn’t I telephone ?  Strategy, my dear boy, strategy. This is a surprise attack, and I’d no wish that the garrison, forewarned, should escape. …”
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Dutch

Etymology

From French surprise.

Pronunciation

  • IPA: /sʏrˈpriːzə/

Noun

surprise f (plural surprises, diminutive surprisetje)

  1. A gift wrapped in an ingenious or creative manner. Often given anonymously during Sinterklaas celebrations in a similar way to secret Santa.
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French

Etymology

From verb surprendre.

Pronunciation

Verb

surprise

  1. feminine form of surpris
    Je t'ai surprise en flagrant délit.

Noun

surprise f (plural surprises)

  1. surprise (something unexpected)
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Last modified on 21 May 2013, at 18:12