surprised, ppl. a.
(səˈpraɪzd)
[f. prec. + -ed1.]
1. Attacked or come upon unexpectedly; captured by sudden attack; taken by surprise or unawares. Also absol.
| 1620 in Foster Eng. Factories Ind. (1906) 210 Through the Decans campe and lately surprized cuntries. 1668 Wilkins Real Char. iii. ii. §6. 308 The result..of a surprized Judgment. 1697 Dryden æneid ii. 514 So, from our arms, surpris'd Androgeos flies. 1779 Collins' Peerage II. 74 The Earl..recovered the town, and revenged the death of the surprised. 1819 Scott Ivanhoe xlv, A dignity which..inspired courage into his surprised and dismayed followers. 1901 ‘Linesman’ Words Eye-witness (1902) 311 The confusion, terror, and indignation of the surprised gives little scope or will to take prisoners those of the beaten surprisers whom it is impossible to shoot. |
2. Excited to wonder by something unexpected; affected or characterized by surprise.
| 1882 Little Folks 3/1 She had a bright colour, and large surprised blue eyes. 1885 ‘Mrs. Alexander’ At Bay iv, The surprised admiration which Elsie and her home had excited on his first visit. 1897 M. Kingsley W. Africa 48 San Thomé..was discovered by its surprised neighbours to be amassing great wealth by growing coffee. |
Hence surˈprisedly (-zɪdlɪ) adv., † (a) by surprise or sudden attack; (b) in a manner expressing surprise, with surprise; surˈprisedness (-zɪdnɪs), state of being surprised (in quot. transf., quality of being caused by surprise).
| 1672 H. More Brief Reply 65 The invincibleness of the mistake, the sudden surprisedness..of the mistake may be a ground..of excusing the person as to the severity of punishment. 1680 ― Apocal. Apoc. 188 ‘For in one hour is she made desolate’; that is, surprizedly and unexpectedly. 1867 R. Broughton Cometh up as Flower x, Nothing could be more surprisedly pitifully penitent than the expression of his..eyes. |