surprise
Definitions
An unexpected event or thing
意外的事，惊喜
The feeling caused by something unexpected
惊讶，诧异
To cause someone to feel surprise; to astonish
使惊讶，使诧异
To attack or come upon someone suddenly and unexpectedly
出其不意地袭击/撞见
Root Breakdown
Root-derivedVia Old French: sur- (over, suddenly) + prise (a taking, from prendre ← prehendere) = to be seized suddenly from above, caught off guard. The bulky Latin -prehend- wore down to the smooth -prise- on the way through French. So a surprise is, at root, an ambush — being grabbed when you weren't looking — and the older 'attack suddenly' sense (surprise the enemy) still shows it.
Root prehens still carries 16 more wordsWhy It Means This
Few learners guess that surprise hides the root 'grab.' The everyday meaning — a shock, a delight — is the emotional residue of a literal ambush. The 'attack suddenly' sense (surprise the enemy, a surprise raid) is older and shows the original picture clearly: catching someone before they can react. The pleasant 'surprise party' is the same move, made friendly.
Common Collocations
- 1.surprise party惊喜派对
- 2.pleasant surprise令人愉快的意外
- 3.big surprise大惊喜
Example Sentences
- 1.
Her sudden visit was a wonderful surprise.
- 2.
To my surprise, the test was much easier than expected.
- 3.
It wouldn't surprise me if they cancelled the trip.
- 4.
The troops surprised the enemy camp at dawn.