surprise

surprise
surprise (n.) late 14c., "unexpected attack or capture," from M.Fr. surprise "a taking unawares," from noun use of pp. of O.Fr. surprendre "to overtake," from sur- "over" (see SUR- (Cf. sur-)) + prendre "to take," from L. prendere, contracted from prehendere "to grasp, seize" (see PREHENSILE (Cf. prehensile)). Meaning "something unexpected" first recorded 1590s, that of "feeling caused by something unexpected" is c.1600. Meaning "fancy dish" is attested from 1708.
A Surprize is ... a dish ... which promising little from its first appearance, when open abounds with all sorts of variety. [W. King, "Cookery," 1708]
The verb is from late 14c. Surprise party originally was a military detachment (1841); festive sense is attested from 1858. Related: Surprising.

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

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  • surprise — [ syrpriz ] n. f. • XVIe; « impôt extraordinaire » XIIe; de surprendre 1 ♦ Vx Action par laquelle on prend ou l on est pris à l improviste. « La Surprise de l amour », comédie de Marivaux. 2 ♦ Vx Action d attaquer à l improviste. ♢ (1549) Mod.… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • Surprise — is something that is unsuspected. Surprise may refer to:Unsuspected things* Surprise (emotion) * Surprise party, a party of which the honored person is not told of beforehand. * Surprise factor, the fundamental element in humor that puts a twist… …   Wikipedia

  • Surprise — ist der Name verschiedener Orte in den USA: Surprise (Arizona) Surprise (Indiana) Surprise (Kalifornien) Surprise (Nebraska) Surprise (New York) Surprise (Virginia) Surprise (Tennessee) sowie: ein Schweizer Straßenmagazin (siehe Surprise… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • surprise — vb 1 Surprise, waylay, ambush are comparable when they mean to attack unawares. Surprise is in military as well as in general use. As a technical term it implies strategy in the disposition and movement of troops and equipment and secrecy in the… …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • surprise — Surprise. s. f. Action par laquelle on surprend. Il s est rendu maistre de cette Place par surprise. il s est servi de surprise autant que de force. c est une estrange surprise. il faut se garder des surprises des chicaneurs. Surprise, se prend… …   Dictionnaire de l'Académie française

  • surprise — sur·prise n 1: a condition or situation in which a party to a proceeding is unexpectedly placed without any fault or neglect of his or her own and that entitles the party to relief (as a new trial) 2: an aspect of procedural unconscionability… …   Law dictionary

  • Surprise — Surprise, NE U.S. village in Nebraska Population (2000): 44 Housing Units (2000): 22 Land area (2000): 0.399762 sq. miles (1.035380 sq. km) Water area (2000): 0.000000 sq. miles (0.000000 sq. km) Total area (2000): 0.399762 sq. miles (1.035380 sq …   StarDict's U.S. Gazetteer Places

  • surprise — [sər prīz′, sə prīz′] vt. surprised, surprising [ME surprysen < OFr surpris, pp. of sorprendre, to surprise, take napping < sur (see SUR 1) + prendre, to take (see PRIZE2)] 1. to come upon suddenly or unexpectedly; take unawares 2. to at …   English World dictionary

  • 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… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 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. [1913… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • surprise — [n] something amazing; state of amazement abruptness, amazement, astonishment, astoundment, attack, awe, bewilderment, bombshell*, consternation, curiosity, curveball*, disappointment, disillusion, eye opener*, fortune, godsend*, incredulity,… …   New thesaurus

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