From Middle English surprise, borrowed from Middle French surprise, nominal use of the past participle of Old French sorprendre, from sor- ("over") + prendre ("to take"), from Latin super- + Latin prendere, contracted from prehendere ("to grasp, seize").

• (RP) IPA: /səˈpɹaɪz/
• (America) enPR: sərprīzʹ, IPA: /sɚˈpɹaɪz/
• (America, r-dissimilation) enPR: səprīzʹ, IPA: /səˈpɹaɪz/

surprise

1. Something unexpected.

   It was a surprise to find out I owed twice as much as I thought I did.

   • 2016, [https://web.archive.org/web/20171030003034/https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/lets-learn-english-lesson-8-are-you-busy/3253185.html VOA Learning English] (public domain)

     Surprise! - A party! Awesome!

   1. A mess of feces, left by a pet or small child in an unexpected place or at an unexpected time.

      After the housecleaners drove off, the cat left a surprise for us on the carpet.

2. The feeling that something unexpected has happened.

   Imagine my surprise on learning I owed twice as much as I thought I did.

   • 1963, Margery Allingham, “Eye Witness”, in The China Governess: A Mystery, London: Chatto & Windus, →OCLC ↗, page 249 ↗:

     The story struck the depressingly familiar note with which true stories ring in the tried ears of experienced policemen. […] The second note, the high alarum, not so familiar and always important since it indicates the paramount sin in Man’s private calendar, took most of them by surprise although they had been well prepared.

• (something unexpected) more than one bargained for
• (attributively: unexpected) unexpected
• (feeling) astonishment

• quelle surprise

• French: surprise
• German: Überraschung
• Italian: sorpresa
• Portuguese: surpresa
• Russian: сюрпри́з
• Spanish: sorpresa

• French: surprise
• German: Überraschung
• Portuguese: surpresa
• Spanish: sorpresa

• German: Überraschung
• Italian: sorpresa, stupore
• Portuguese: surpresa
• Russian: удивле́ние
• Spanish: sorpresa

surprise (surprises, present participle surprising; simple past and past participle surprised)

1. (transitive) To cause (someone) to feel unusually alarmed or delighted by something unexpected.

   It surprises me that I owe twice as much as I thought I did.

2. (transitive) To do something to (a person) that they are not expecting, as a surprise.

   He doesn’t know that I’m in the country – I thought I’d turn up at his house and surprise him.

3. (intransitive) To undergo or witness something unexpected.

   He doesn’t surprise easily.

4. (intransitive) To cause surprise.
5. (transitive) To attack unexpectedly.
6. (transitive) To take unawares.
   • 1838 (date written), L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], chapter IX, in Lady Anne Granard; or, Keeping up Appearances. […], volume I, London: Henry Colburn, […], published 1842, →OCLC ↗, page 112 ↗:

     "You were right," replied Isabella, "and I should not have surprised your confidence, had I not had something I wished to say. I know what you mean to do with Mr. Glentworth's gift—a marriage would scarcely be one without wedding-dresses—he has been equally generous to me, and you must keep the money till it is wanted, which, I hope, will be soon."

• (to come upon unexpectedly) overtake

• French: surprendre, étonner
• German: überraschen
• Italian: stupire, sorprendere, meravigliare
• Portuguese: surpreender
• Russian: удивля́ть
• Spanish: sorprender

• French: surprendre
• German: überraschen
• Portuguese: surpreender

• Portuguese: surpreender
• Russian: застать врасплох

1. Drawing attention to a surprising action by oneself.

   "Surprise!" we shouted as we jumped out from the cupboard. "Happy birthday!"

2. Sarcastically drawing attention to something that should have been obvious.

1. A number of places in USA:
   1. A city in Maricopa County, Arizona, the largest place with this name.
   2. An unincorporated community in Jackson County, Indiana.
   3. A village in Butler County, Nebraska.
   4. A populated place in Greene County, New York.
   5. Former name of Surprise Station California.