surprise

Etymology

From Middle English surprise, borrowed from Middle French surprise (“an overtake”), nominal use of the past participle of Old French sorprendre (“to overtake”), from sor- (“over”) + prendre (“to take”), from Latin super- + Latin prendere, contracted from prehendere (“to grasp, seize”). Doublet of suppli.

noun

1. Something unexpected.
   It was a surprise to find out I owed twice as much as I thought I did.
   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. September 7, 2012, Phil McNulty, “Moldova 0-5 England”, in BBC Sport
   They had begun brightly but the opening goal was such a blow to their confidence it almost came as a surprise when Walcott, running through the inside-right channel, beat the offside trap and, checking back on to his left foot, turned a low shot beyond Allan McGregor in the Scotland goal. 14 August 2013, Daniel Taylor, “Rickie Lambert’s debut goal gives England victory over Scotland”, in The Guardian
   Surprise! - A party! Awesome! Audio (US) (file) 2016, VOA Learning English (public domain)
   She bought the model as a surprise gift for a friend who is a lifelong HST fan and railwayman, and who will soon be celebrating a milestone birthday. October 20 2021, “Stop & Examine”, in RAIL, number 942, page 71
   1. A mess of feces, left by a pet or small child in an unexpected place or at an unexpected place.
      After the housecleaners drove off, the cat left a surprise for us on the carpet.
2. The feeling that something unexpected has happened.
   Imagine my surprise on learning I owed twice as much as I thought I did.

verb

1. (transitive) To cause (someone) to feel unusually alarmed or delighted by something unexpected.
   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.