SG Heritage Dictionary

Surprise [Noun] Webster's Dictionary 1828

1. The act of coming upon unawares, or of taking suddenly and without preparation. The fort was taken by surprise

2. The state of being taken unexpectedly.

3. An emotion excited by something happening suddenly and unexpectedly, as something novel told or presented to view. Nothing could exceed his surprise at the narration of these adventures. It expresses less than wonder and astonishment.

4. A dish with nothing in it. [Not in use.]

Surprise [Verb transitive] Webster's Dictionary 1828

1. surpri'ze. [Latin super, supra, and prendo, to take.]

2. To come or fall upon suddenly and unexpectedly; to take unawares.

3. The castle of Macduff I will surprise

4. Who can speak

5. The mingled passions that surpris'd his heart?

6. To strike with wonder or astonishment by something sudden, unexpected or remarkable, either in conduct, words or story, or by the appearance of something unusual. Thus we are surprised at desperate acts of heroism, or at the narration of wonderful events, or at the sight of things of uncommon magnitude or curious structure.

7. To confuse; to throw the mind into disorder by something suddenly presented to the view or to the mind.

8. Up he starts, discover'd and surpris'd.

Surprise [Noun] Webster's Dictionary 1913

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.

3. Anything that causes such a state or emotion.

4. A dish covered with a crust of raised paste, but with no other contents.

5. To come or fall suddenly and unexpectedly; to take unawares; to seize or capture by unexpected attack.

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

7. 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.

8. To hold possession of; to hold.

Surprised [Participle passive] Webster's Dictionary 1828

Come upon or taken unawares; struck with something novel or unexpected.

Surprised [Imperfect tense and past participle] Webster's Dictionary 1913

of Surprise

Surprisement [Noun] Webster's Dictionary 1913

Surprisal.

Surpriser [Noun] Webster's Dictionary 1913

One who surprises.

Inexpectation Roget’s Thesaurus §508

N. inexpectation, non-expectation, false expectation, miscalculation, surprise, sudden burst, thunderclap, blow, shock, start, bolt out of the blue, wonder, eye opener, unpleasant surprise, pleasant surprise

V. not expect, be taken by surprise, start, miscalculate, not bargain for, come upon, fall upon, be unexpected, come unawares, turn up, pop, drop from the clouds, come upon one, burst upon one, flash upon one, bounce upon one, steal upon one, creep upon one, come like a thunder clap, burst like a thunderclap, thunder bolt, take by surprise, catch by surprise, catch unawares, catch napping, yach, pounce upon, spring a mine upon, surprise, startle, take aback, electrify, stun, stagger, take away one's breath, throw off one's guard, astonish, dumbfound

Adj. nonexpectant, surprised, unwarned, unaware, off one's guard, inattentive 458, unexpected, unanticipated, unpredicted, unlooked for, unforeseen, unhoped for, dropped from the clouds, beyond expectation, contrary to expectation, against expectation, against all expectation, out of one's reckoning, unheard of, startling, surprising, sudden, unpredictable, unforeseeable (unknowable) 519

Adv. abruptly, unexpectedly, surprisingly, plump, pop, a l'improviste, unawares, without notice, without warning, without a "by your leave", like a thief in the night, like a thunderbolt, in an unguarded moment, suddenly

Phr. little did one think, little did one expect, nobody would ever suppose, nobody would ever think, nobody would ever expect, who would have thought? it beats the dutch|

Int. heydey, &c. (wonder) 870

Cunning Roget’s Thesaurus §702

N. cunning, craft, cunningness, craftiness, subtlety, artificiality, maneuvering, temporization, circumvention, chicane, chicanery, sharp practice, knavery, jugglery, concealment, guile, doubling, duplicity, foul play, diplomacy, politics, machiavelism, jobbery, backstairs influence, art, artifice, device, machination, plot, maneuver, stratagem, dodge, sidestep, artful dodge, wile, trick, trickery, ruse, ruse de guerre, finesse, side blow, thin end of the wedge, shift, go by, subterfuge, evasion, white lie, juggle, tour de force, tricks of the trade, tricks upon travelers, espieglerie, net, trap, ulysses, machiavel, sly boots, fox, reynard, scotchman, jew, yankee, intriguer, intrigant, floater, indian giver, keener, repeater

V. be cunning, have cut one's eyeteeth, contrive, live by one's wits, maneuver, intrigue, gerrymander, finesse, double, temporize, stoop to conquer, reculer pour mieux sauter, circumvent, steal a march upon, overreach, throw off one's guard, surprise, snatch a verdict, waylay, undermine, introduce the thin end of the wedge, play a deep game, play tricks with, ambiguas in vulgum spargere voces, flatter, make things pleasant, have an ax to grind, dodge, sidestep, bob and weave

Adj. cunning, crafty, artful, skillful, subtle, feline, vulpine, cunning as a fox, cunning as a serpent, deep, deep laid, profound, designing, contriving, intriguing, strategic, diplomatic, politic, machiavelian, timeserving, artificial, tricky, tricksy, wily, sly, slim, insidious, stealthy, underhand, subdolous, deceitful, slippery as an eel, evasive, crooked, arch, pawky, shrewd, acute, sharp, sharp as a tack, sharp as a needle|, canny, astute, leery, knowing, up to snuff, too clever by half, not to be caught with chaff, tactful, diplomatic, politic, polite

Adv. cunningly, slyly, slily, on the sly, by a side wind

Phr. diamond cut diamond, a' bis ou a blanc, fin contre fin, "something is rotten in the state of denmark"

Wonder Roget’s Thesaurus §870

N. wonder, marvel, astonishment, amazement, wonderment, bewilderment, amazedness, admiration, awe, stupor, stupefaction, stound|, fascination, sensation, surprise 8, note of admiration, thaumaturgy

V. wonder, marvel, admire, be surprised, start, stare, open one's eyes, rub one's eyes, turn up one's eyes, gloar|, gape, open one's mouth, hold one's breath, look aghast, stand aghast, stand agog, look blank, tombe des nues, not believe one's eyes, not believe one's ears, not believe one's senses, not be able to account for, not know whether one stands on one's head or one's heels, surprise, astonish, amaze, astound, dumfound, dumfounder, startle, dazzle, daze, strike, strike with wonder, strike with awe, electrify, stun, stupefy, petrify, confound, bewilder, flabbergast, stagger, throw on one's beam ends, fascinate, turn the head, take away one's breath, strike dumb, make one's hair stand on end, make one's tongue cleave to the roof of one's mouth, make one stare, take by surprise, be wonderful, beggar description, beggar the imagination, baffle description, stagger belief

Adj. surprised, aghast, all agog, breathless, agape, open- mouthed, awestruck, thunderstruck, moonstruck, planet-struck, spellbound, lost in amazement, lost in wonder, lost in astonishment, struck all of a heap, unable to believe one's senses, like a duck ion thunder, wonderful, wondrous, surprising, unexpected, unheard of, mysterious, miraculous, indescribable, inexpressible, inaffable, unutterable, unspeakable, monstrous, prodigious, stupendous, marvelous, inconceivable, incredible, inimaginable, unimaginable, strange, passing strange, striking, overwhelming, wonder-working

Adv. wonderfully, &c. adj, fearfully, for a wonder, in the name of wonder, strange to say, mirabile dictu, mirabile visu, to one's great surprise, with wonder, with gaping mouth, with open eyes, with upturned eyes

Int. lo, lo and behold, o, heyday, halloo, what, indeed, really, surely, humph, hem, good lack, good heavens, good gracious, ye gods, good lord, good grief, holy cow, my word, holy shit, [vulg.], gad so, welladay, dear me, only think, lackadaisy, my stars, my goodness, gracious goodness, goodness gracious, mercy on us, heavens and earth, god bless me, bless us, bless my heart, odzookens, o gemini, adzooks, hoity-toity, strong, heaven save the mark, bless the mark, can such things be, zounds, 'sdeath, what on earth, what in the world, who would have thought it, &c. (inexpectation) 508[obs3], you don't say so, you're kidding, no kidding? what do you say to that, nous verrons, how now, where am i? phr, vox faucibus haesit, one's hair standing on end

King James Bible KJV Bible

Berean Standard Bible BSB Bible

3 KJV and 12 BSB verses contain “surprise”

Genesis 26:8

And it came to pass, when he had been there a long time, that Abimelech king of the Philistines looked out at a window, and saw, and, behold, Isaac was sporting with Rebekah his wife.

When Isaac had been there a long time, Abimelech king of the Philistines looked down from the window and was surprised to see Isaac caressing his wife Rebekah.

Joshua 10:9

Joshua therefore came unto them suddenly, and went up from Gilgal all night.

After marching all night from Gilgal, Joshua caught them by surprise.

Judges 8:11

And Gideon went up by the way of them that dwelt in tents on the east of Nobah and Jogbehah, and smote the host: for the host was secure.

And Gideon went up by way of the caravan route east of Nobah and Jogbehah, and he attacked their army, taking them by surprise.

Psalms 35:8

Let destruction come upon him at unawares; and let his net that he hath hid catch himself: into that very destruction let him fall.

May ruin befall them by surprise; may the net they hid ensnare them; may they fall into the hazard they created.

Psalms 55:15

Let death seize upon them, and let them go down quick into hell: for wickedness is in their dwellings, and among them.

Let death seize them by surprise; let them go down to Sheol alive, for evil is with them in their homes.

Isaiah 33:14

The sinners in Zion are afraid; fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites. Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings?

The sinners in Zion are afraid; trembling grips the ungodly: “Who of us can dwell with a consuming fire? Who of us can dwell with everlasting flames?”

Jeremiah 14:9

Why shouldest thou be as a man astonied, as a mighty man that cannot save? yet thou, O LORD, art in the midst of us, and we are called by thy name; leave us not.

Why are You like a man taken by surprise, like a warrior powerless to save? Yet You are among us, O LORD, and we are called by Your name. Do not forsake us!

Jeremiah 48:41

Kerioth is taken, and the strong holds are surprised, and the mighty men’s hearts in Moab at that day shall be as the heart of a woman in her pangs.

Kirioth has been taken, and the strongholds seized. In that day the heart of Moab’s warriors will be like the heart of a woman in labor.

Jeremiah 51:41

How is Sheshach taken! and how is the praise of the whole earth surprised! how is Babylon become an astonishment among the nations!

How Sheshach has been captured! The praise of all the earth has been seized. What a horror Babylon has become among the nations!

Mark 15:44

And Pilate marvelled if he were already dead: and calling unto him the centurion, he asked him whether he had been any while dead.

Pilate was surprised to hear that Jesus was already dead, so he summoned the centurion to ask if this was so.

Luke 11:38

And when the Pharisee saw it, he marvelled that he had not first washed before dinner.

But the Pharisee was surprised to see that Jesus did not first wash before the meal.

John 4:27

And upon this came his disciples, and marvelled that he talked with the woman: yet no man said, What seekest thou? or, Why talkest thou with her?

Just then His disciples returned and were surprised that He was speaking with a woman. But no one asked Him, “What do You want from her?” or “Why are You talking with her?”

Acts 3:12

And when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people, Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk?

And when Peter saw this, he addressed the people: “Men of Israel, why are you surprised by this? Why do you stare at us as if by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk?

1 Peter 4:12

Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:

Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial that has come upon you, as though something strange were happening to you.

1 John 3:13

Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you.

So do not be surprised, brothers, if the world hates you.