surprise English · revision 3389

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1457|origins=la prehendō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /səˈpraɪz/, US /sɚˈpraɪz/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|surprise]], also supprise,^(Barnhart 1988) [[bor|frm|surprise|t=a taking unawares]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) the noun use of the feminine past participle of [[m|fro|surprendre|t=to overtake, seize]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(NODE 1998) from [[la-med|superprehendere|t=to seize]],^(Hoad 1986)^(NODE 1998)^(Cresswell 2021) from [[m|la|super-]] and [[m|la|prehendere|t=to grasp, seize]],^(Hoad 1986)^(Etymonline) from [[ine-pro|*ghend-|t=to seize, take]].^(Etymonline) The verb comes from the noun or from the Old French participle.^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) The old spelling surprize was influenced by [[prize]].^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A sudden, unexpected attack or capture: about 1457 in Barnhart and 1457 in the OED,^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989) and the late 14th century in Etymonline.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ From the 15th century a surprise was a sudden seizure of a place, and one could even speak of “the surprise of Troy” after a ten-year siege;^(Cresswell 2021) over time the idea of force faded and that of the unexpected came to the fore.^(Cresswell 2021) The verb meant “to overcome”, of emotions, in the late 14th century,^(Etymonline) “to attack without warning” by the 1540s,^(Etymonline) “to come upon unexpectedly” from the 1590s,^(Etymonline) and “to astonish” from the 1650s.^(Etymonline) Something unexpected is from 1592,^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989) and the feeling it causes from 1608, in Shakespeare's ''Pericles''.^(Barnhart 1988) ''Take by surprise'' is from the 1690s.^(Etymonline) A ''surprise party'' was first a stealthy military detachment (1826), and the festive sense is attested by 1857.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1457 – a sudden attack.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1540s – verb, to attack without warning.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1592 – something unexpected.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1608 – the feeling of surprise.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1650s – verb, to astonish.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1690s – ''take by surprise''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1857 – ''surprise party''.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # An unexpected event, fact or gift.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # The feeling caused by something unexpected; [[astonishment]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # The act of taking someone unawares.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To cause to feel wonder or [[amazement]] by being unexpected.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # To come upon or catch unawares.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # To attack or capture suddenly and without warning.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[surpriser]]

+ * [[surprising]]

+ * [[surprisingly]]

+ * [[surprisal]]

+ * [[surprise party]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[comprehend]]

+ * [[apprehend]]

+ * [[prehensile]]

+ * [[prison]]

+ * [[enterprise]]

+ * [[reprise]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ The American Heritage Dictionary distinguishes ''surprise'' from ''astonish'', ''amaze'', ''astound'', ''dumbfound'' and ''flabbergast'', and says ''surprise'' is the mildest, stressing that something was not expected.^(AHD) The Century Dictionary, quoted in Etymonline, says we are surprised because we did not expect a thing, astonished by its remarkableness, and amazed because we cannot understand it.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}