Definition: surprise

Source: WordNet (r) 1.7

surprise
     n 1: the astonishment you feel when something totally unexpected
          happens to you
     2: a sudden unexpected event
     3: the act of surprising someone [syn: surprisal]
     v 1: take unawares or by surprise; cause to be surprised; "The
          news really surprised me"
     2: take unawares; "She surprised the couple"; "He surprised an
        interesting scene"
     3: attack by storm; attack suddenly [syn: storm]

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Surprise \Sur*prise"\, 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.

            Fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites. --Isa.
                                                  xxxiii. 14.

            The castle of Macduff I will surprise. --Shak.

            Who can speak The mingled passions that surprised
            his heart?                            --Thomson.

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

            I am surprised with an uncouth fear.  --Shak.

            Up he starts, Discovered and surprised. --Milton.

   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.

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

            Not with me, That in my hands surprise the
            sovereignity.                         --J. Webster.

   Syn: See Astonish.

Surprise \Sur*prise"\, 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.

   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.

            Pure surprise and fear Made me to quit the house.
                                                  --Shak.

   3. Anything that causes such a state or emotion.

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

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

   Syn: Wonder; astonishment; amazement.

Source: U.S. Gazetteer (1990)

Surprise, AZ (town, FIPS 71510)
  Location: 33.66411 N, 112.46845 W
  Population (1990): 7122 (5256 housing units)
  Area: 161.3 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water)
  Zip code(s): 85374
Surprise, NE (village, FIPS 47850)
  Location: 41.10439 N, 97.30863 W
  Population (1990): 55 (26 housing units)
  Area: 1.0 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water)
Surprise, NY
  Zip code(s): 12176