surprisers
|sur-pris-ers|
🇺🇸
/sərˈpraɪzərz/
🇬🇧
/səˈpraɪzəz/
(surpriser)
cause unexpected astonishment
Etymology
'surprise' originates from Old French, specifically the word 'surprendre' (from 'sur-' + 'prendre'), where 'sur-' meant 'over' and 'prendre' meant 'to take'.
'surprise' changed from Latin 'superprehendere' (to seize from above) into Old French 'surprendre' and then into Middle English as 'surprisen' before becoming the modern English 'surprise' and related forms like 'surpriser'.
Initially, it meant 'to seize or overtake' (a physical taking), but over time it evolved into the current sense 'to astonish or startle'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
plural form of 'surpriser': people or things that cause surprise; those who astonish or startle others.
The surprisers at the charity event revealed a flash mob that no one expected.
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Antonyms
Noun 2
a rare use: an agent noun formed from the verb 'surprise' (a person who surprises).
As surprisers, the children managed to conceal the decorations until the very last minute.
Synonyms
Idioms
Last updated: 2025/08/18 15:09