In the 18th century, the Swedish government made coffee and its paraphernalia (including cups and dishes) illegal for its supposed ties to rebellious sentiment.
SURPRISE
surprise, surprisal
(noun) the act of surprising someone
surprise
(noun) a sudden unexpected event
surprise
(noun) the astonishment you feel when something totally unexpected happens to you
surprise
(verb) cause to be surprised; āThe news really surprised meā
storm, surprise
(verb) attack by storm; attack suddenly
surprise
(verb) come upon or take unawares; āShe surprised the coupleā; āHe surprised an interesting sceneā
Source: WordNet® 3.1
Etymology
Noun
surprise (countable and uncountable, plural surprises)
Something unexpected.
The feeling that something unexpected has happened.
(obsolete) A dish covered with a crust of raised pastry, but with no other contents.
Synonyms
• (something unexpected): more than one bargained for
• (attributively: unexpected): unexpected
• (feeling): astonishment
Verb
surprise (third-person singular simple present surprises, present participle surprising, simple past and past participle surprised)
(transitive) To cause (someone) to feel unusually alarmed or delighted by something unexpected.
(transitive) To do something to (a person) that they are not expecting, as a surprise.
(intransitive) To undergo or witness something unexpected.
(intransitive) To cause surprise.
(transitive) To attack unexpectedly.
(transitive) To take unawares.
Synonyms
• (to come upon unexpectedly): overtake
Anagrams
• spurries, uprisers
Source: Wiktionary
Sur*prise", n. Etym: [F. surprise, fr. surprendre, surpris; sur over + prendre to take, L. prehendere. See Sur-, and Prehensile.]
1. The act of coming upon, or taking, unawares; the act of seizing unexpectedly; surprisal; as, the fort was taken by surprise.
2. The state of being surprised, or taken unawares, by some act or event which could not reasonably be foreseen; emotion excited by what is sudden and strange; a suddenly excited feeling of wonder or astonishment. Pure surprise and fear Made me to quit the house. Shak.
3. Anything that causes such a state or emotion.
4. A dish covered with a crust of raised paste, but with no other contents. [Obs.] King. Surprise party, a party of persons who assemble by mutual agreement, and without invitation, at the house of a common friend. [U.S.] Bartlett.
Syn.
– Wonder; astonishment; amazement.
Sur*prise", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Surprised; p. pr. & vb. n. Surprising.] Etym: [From Surprise, n.: cf. F. surprendre, p.p. surpris.]
1. To come or fall suddenly and unexpectedly; to take unawares; to seize or capture by unexpected attack. Fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites. Isa. xxxiii. 14. The castle of Macduff I will surprise. Shak. Who can speak The mingled passions that surprised his heart Thomson.
2. To strike with wonder, astonishment, or confusion, by something sudden, unexpected, or remarkable; to confound; as, his conduct surprised me. I am surprised with an uncouth fear. Shak. Up he starts, Discovered and surprised. Milton.
3. To lead (one) to do suddenly and without forethought; to bring (one) into some unexpected state; -- with into; as, to be surprised into an indiscretion; to be surprised into generosity.
4. To hold possession of; to hold. [Obs.] Not with me, That in my hands surprise the sovereignity. J. Webster.
Syn.
– See Astonish.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition
Recent Word Finds
Word of the Day
9 January 2025
PRESENTATION
(noun) (obstetrics) position of the fetus in the uterus relative to the birth canal; āCesarean sections are sometimes the result of abnormal presentationsā
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