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men . . . should be so stupid grown . . . As to forsake the living God! Milton. With wild surprise, A moment stupid, motionless he stood. Thomson.

The act of obtaining a favor by surprise, or by unfair representation through suppression or fraudulent concealment of facts. Bp. Hall.

An unexpected occurrence; a surprise. All of a sudden, On a sudden, Of a sudden, sooner than was expected; without the usual preparation; suddenly. How art thou lost! how on a sudden lost! Milton. He withdrew his opposition all of a sudden. Thackeray.

To surprise. [Obs.] Chaucer.

The act of surprising, or state of being surprised; surprise. How to secure the lady from surprisal. Milton. Because death is uncertain, let us prevent its surprisal. Barrow.

Exciting surprise; extraordinary; of a nature to excite wonder and astonishment; as, surprising bravery; a surprising escape from danger. -- Sur*pris"ing*ly, adv. -- Sur*pris"ing*ness, n.

in years . . . swooned first away for pain. Dryden. He seemed ready to swoon away in the surprise of joy. Tatler.

an elliptical sentence to introduce a dependent sentence expressing a wish, or a cause of surprise, indignation, or the like. Ha, cousin Silence, that thou hadst seen that that this knight and I have seen! Shak. O God, that right should thus overcome might! Shak.

high place, our sanctuary, our hill. Milton. At unaware, or At unawares, unexpectedly; by surprise. He breaks at unawares upon our walks. Dryden. So we met In this old sleepy town an at unaware. R. Browning.

d; awkward; boorish; as, uncouth manners. "Uncouth in guise and gesture." I. Taylor. I am surprised with an uncouth fear. Shak. Thus sang the uncouth swain. Milton.

taining to the sight; visual. [Obs.] I can not satisfy myself how men should be so little surprised about this visive faculty. Berkeley.

h and ward (see the Note under Watch, n., 1) with a horn to be blown upon any occasion of surprise. Burrill.

Felicitous association of objects not usually connected, so as to produce a pleasant surprise; also. the power of readily combining objects in such a manner. The definition of wit is only this, that it is a propriety of thoughts and words; or, in other terms, thoughts and words elegantly adapted to the subject. Dryden.…

or mind of something new, unusual, strange, great, extraordinary, or not well understood; surprise; astonishment; admiration; amazement. They were filled with wonder and amazement at that which had happened unto him. Acts iii. 10. Wonder is the effect of novelty upon ignorance. Johnson.

Surprise; astonishment; a wonderful appearance; a wonder. Bacon. All the common sights they view, Their wonderment engage. Sir W. Scott.

Struck with wonder, admiration, or surprise. Dryden.

Wonderful; astonishing; admirable; marvelous; such as excite surprise and astonishment; strange. That I may . . . tell of all thy wondrous works. Ps. xxvi. 7. -- Won"drous*ly, adv. -- Won"drous*ness, n. Chloe complains, and wondrously's aggrieved. Granville.

To open the mouth, or to gape, through surprise or bewilderment. Shak.