KJV Dictionary Definition: surprisal

surprisal

SURPRISAL, n. surpri'zal. See Surprise. The act of surprising or coming upon suddenly and unexpectedly; or the state of being taken unawares.

surprise

SURPRISE, v.t. surpri'ze. L. super, supra, and prendo, to take.

1. To come or fall upon suddenly and unexpectedly; to take unawares.

The castle of Macduff I will surprise.

Who can speak

The mingled passions that surpris'd his heart?

2. To strike with wonder or astonishment by something sudden, unexpected or remarkable, either in conduct, words or story, or by the appearance of something unusual. Thus we are surprised at desperate acts of heroism, or at the narration of wonderful events, or at the sight of things of uncommon magnitude or curious structure.

3. To confuse; to throw the mind into disorder by something suddenly presented to the view or to the mind.

Up he starts, discover'd and surpris'd.

surprised

SURPRI'SED, pp. Come upon or taken unawares; struck with something novel or unexpected.

surprising

SURPRI'SING, ppr. Falling on or taking suddenly or unawares; striking with something novel; taking by a sudden or unexpected attack.

1. a. Exciting surprise; extraordinary; of a nature to excite wonder and astonishment; as surprising bravery; surprising patience; a surprising escape from danger.

surprisingly

SURPRI'SINGLY, adv. In a manner or degree that excites surprise. He exerted himself surprisingly to save the life of his companion.

Definitions from Webster's American Dictionary of the English Language, 1828.
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