surprisal

from WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006)

surprisal
    n 1: the act of surprising someone [syn: {surprise},
         {surprisal}]

from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

Surprisal \Sur*pris"al\, n. [See {Surprise}, n.]
   The act of surprising, or state of being surprised; surprise.
   [1913 Webster]

         How to secure the lady from surprisal.   --Milton.
   [1913 Webster]

         Because death is uncertain, let us prevent its
         surprisal.                               --Barrow.
   [1913 Webster]