Definition: surprising

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Source: WordNet (r) 1.7 

surprising
     adj : causing surprise or wonder or amazement; "the report shows a
           surprising lack of hard factual data"; "leaped up with
           surprising agility"; "she earned a surprising amount of
           money" [ant: unsurprising]

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) 

Surprising \Sur*pris"ing\, a.
   Exciting surprise; extraordinary; of a nature to excite
   wonder and astonishment; as, surprising bravery; a surprising
   escape from danger. -- Sur*pris"ing*ly, adv. --
   Sur*pris"ing*ness, n.

   Syn: Wonderful; extraordinary; unexpected; astonishing;
        striking.
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.