# surprise

Pronunciation: US say "sur-PRYZ" /sɚˈpɹaɪz/; UK say "suh-PRYZ" /səˈpɹaɪz/

## Noun

1. An unexpected event, fact, or occurrence.
   - Simple: Something that happens when you do not expect it.
   - _The announcement came as a complete surprise to the staff._
   - _Life is full of small surprises that no one can predict._
2. The feeling caused by something unexpected happening.
   - Simple: The feeling you get when something unexpected happens.
   - _A look of surprise crossed his face when the lights came on._
   - _There was genuine surprise in the room at the announcement._
8. A polite word for a mess of feces left by a pet or small child where it is not expected.
   - Simple: A polite word for the mess a pet or small child leaves in the wrong place.
   - _By the door lay a little surprise the new kitten had left overnight._
   - _He groaned after stepping in a surprise the dog had hidden in the grass._

## Verb

3. To cause someone to feel surprise because something is unexpected; also (intransitive or passive) to feel this, as in 'doesn't surprise easily' or 'was surprised'.
   - Simple: To make someone feel surprised because they did not expect something. Also, to feel that way.
   - _Given the polls, the result should not surprise._
   - _The sudden resignation of the coach surprised even his closest friends._
4. To do something unexpected for a person, such as a gift or visit planned as a surprise.
   - Simple: To do something nice for someone that they do not know about ahead of time.
   - _They planned to surprise their father with a new car._
   - _She surprised her sister with a homemade dinner on her birthday._
5. To come upon, catch, or attack a person or group suddenly, when they are unaware or unprepared.
   - Simple: To catch or attack someone suddenly when they are not expecting it.
   - _The general aimed to surprise the garrison before reinforcements arrived._
   - _Raiders surprised the outpost and seized it within minutes._

## Interjection

6. An exclamation used sarcastically to highlight something entirely predictable.
   - Simple: Said in a joking way to point out something everyone already expected.
   - _Surprise, surprise: the train is late yet again._
   - _And, surprise, nobody read the memo before the meeting._
7. An exclamation announcing a surprising act or reveal by the speaker.
   - Simple: Said suddenly to point out something unexpected you have just done.
   - _Surprise! The whole family flew in just to see you._
   - _She leaped from behind the couch with a joyful 'Surprise!'_

## Origin

This word came through Middle English from Middle French surprise ("an overtake"), the noun use of the past participle of Old French sorprendre ("to overtake"). That verb was formed from sor- ("over") and prendre ("to take"), from Latin super- plus prendere, a contracted form of prehendere ("to grasp, seize").

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/surprise (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).