Surprising
from
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006)
surprising
adj 1: causing surprise or wonder or amazement; "the report
shows a surprising lack of hard factual data"; "leaped up
with surprising agility"; "she earned a surprising amount
of money" [ant: {unsurprising}]
from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Surprise \Sur*prise"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Surprised}; p. pr. &
vb. n. {Surprising}.] [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.
[1913 Webster]
Fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites. --Isa.
xxxiii. 14.
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The castle of Macduff I will surprise. --Shak.
[1913 Webster]
Who can speak
The mingled passions that surprised his heart?
--Thomson.
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2. To strike with wonder, astonishment, or confusion, by
something sudden, unexpected, or remarkable; to confound;
as, his conduct surprised me.
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I am surprised with an uncouth fear. --Shak.
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Up he starts,
Discovered and surprised. --Milton.
[1913 Webster]
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.
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4. To hold possession of; to hold. [Obs.]
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Not with me,
That in my hands surprise the sovereignity. --J.
Webster.
[1913 Webster]
Syn: See {Astonish}.
[1913 Webster]
from
Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0
38 Moby Thesaurus words for "surprising":
abrupt, amazing, astonishing, astounding, breathtaking,
confounding, electrifying, eye-opening, hasty, headlong, impetuous,
impulsive, jarring, jolting, mind-boggling, miraculous,
nerve-shattering, overwhelming, precipitant, precipitate,
precipitous, prodigious, quick, shocking, spectacular, speedy,
staggering, startling, stunning, stupendous, sudden, swift,
unanticipated, unexpected, unforeseen, unlooked-for, unpredicted,
wondrous
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