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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.

A short narrative or tale, esp. one dealing with surprising or marvelous events.

The Coryphæna hippuris, a fish of about five feet in length, celebrated for its surprising changes of color when dying. It is the fish commonly known as the dolphin. See Coryphænoid.

se; virgin; -- said usually of the woman, but sometimes of the man; as, a maiden aunt. "A surprising old maiden lady." Thackeray.

cleanly; tidy. If you were to see her, you would wonder what poor body it was that was so surprisingly neat and clean. Law.

n or introduction; not ancient; new; hence, out of the ordinary course; unusual; strange; surprising.

A kind of light bridge, used in sieges, for surprising a post or outwork which has but a narrow moat; a flying bridge.

hence, any fictitious and wonderful tale; a sort of novel, especially one which treats of surprising adventures usually befalling a hero or a heroine; a tale of extravagant adventures, of love, and the like. "Romances that been royal." Chaucer. Upon these three columns -- chivalry, gallantry, and religion -- repose the…

e or disgrace; injurious to reputation; disgraceful. His naval preparations were not more surprising than his quick and shameful retreat. Arbuthnot.

Affecting with strong emotions; surprising; forcible; impressive; very noticeable; as, a striking representation or image; a striking resemblance. "A striking fact." De Quincey. -- Strik"ing*ly, adv. -- Strik"ing*ness, n.

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.

Unknown; strange, or foreign; unusual, or surprising; distant in manner; reserved. [Scot.]

Doing wonders or surprising things.

Adapted to excite wonder or admiration; surprising; strange; astonishing.

In a wonderful or surprising manner or degree; wonderfully. For sylphs, yet mindful of their ancient race, Are, as when women, wondrous fond of place. Pope. And now there came both mist and snow, And it grew wondrous cold. Coleridge.

the world would not save him. -- A world to see, a wonder to see; something admirable or surprising to see. [Obs.] O, you are novices; 't is a world to see How tame, when men and women are alone, A meacock wretch can make the curstest shrew. Shak. -- For all the world. (a) Precisely; exactly. (b) For any consideration…