SURPRISED • DICTIONARY ONE.COM • Definition of Surprised

Add this Dictionary
to your website!
See more options...

/sərprˈaɪzd/ /səprˈaɪzd/ Listen

verb

Surprise v. t. (past & past part. surprised; pres. part. surprising)

To come or fall suddenly and unexpectedly; to take unawares; to seize or capture by unexpected attack. "Fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites." "The castle of Macduff I will surprise." "Who can speak The mingled passions that surprised his heart?"

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." "Up he starts, Discovered and surprised."

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.

To hold possession of; to hold. (Obs.) "Not with me, That in my hands surprise the sovereignity."

Synonyms: See Astonish.

See images of 'Surprised'

Etymology of 'Surprised'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

Share |

Add this dictionary
to your browser search bar

"Surprised" Quotes from Famous Books

... Garden. She is very young, and very fair, and very bright and lively. I'm not surprised at any one's admiring her! it's much more wonderful that everybody doesn't fall in love with her over head and ears: for my part, though I've only seen her two or three times, I'm ready to fight and die for her, too, if it ...

— The Pirate of the Mediterranean - A Tale of the Sea • W.H.G. Kingston

... Charming," said a voice from the water. Charming had never heard a fish speak before, and you can imagine that he was mightily surprised. "Some day ...

— Boys and Girls Bookshelf (Vol 2 of 17) - Folk-Lore, Fables, And Fairy Tales • Various

... impossibility of explaining the phenomena of life without a supreme Directing and Formative Force behind all the manifestations of life, he was anxious to have Wallace's criticisms. At that time he had not read Wallace's recently published work on a similar subject, and he was greatly surprised to find how closely his views agreed with ...

— Alfred Russel Wallace: Letters and Reminiscences Vol 2 (of 2) • James Marchant

... objected to this series for the reason that he was "on the other side" of the great issue which shook the nation to the centre of its being for four years. Doubtless the writers of these letters, and many who wrote no letters, will be surprised and grieved at the announcement of another series by the author on war topics. The writer had little inclination to undertake this task; for he has believed for twenty years that the war is over, and he has not ...

— Taken by the Enemy • Oliver Optic

... awakened feeling shot across the faces of all present. Even the coroner showed sudden signs of emotion, and sat staring at the bowed form and pale countenance of the man before him, with a peculiar look of surprised compassion, which could not fail of producing its effect, not only upon the young man himself, but upon all ...

— The Leavenworth Case • Anna Katharine Green

More quotes...