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.
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            Fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites. --Isa.
                                                  xxxiii. 14.
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            The castle of Macduff I will surprise. --Shak.
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            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.
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   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.
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   Syn: See Astonish.
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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Surprise \Sur*prise"\, n. [F. surprise, fr. surprendre, surpris;
   sur over + prendre to take, L. prehendere. See Sur-, and
   Prehensile.]
   1. The act of coming upon, or taking, unawares; the act of
      seizing unexpectedly; surprisal; as, the fort was taken by
      surprise.
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   2. The state of being surprised, or taken unawares, by some
      act or event which could not reasonably be foreseen;
      emotion excited by what is sudden and strange; a suddenly
      excited feeling of wonder or astonishment.
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            Pure surprise and fear
            Made me to quit the house.            --Shak.
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   3. Anything that causes such a state or emotion.
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   4. A dish covered with a crust of raised paste, but with no
      other contents. [Obs.] --King.
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   Surprise party, a party of persons who assemble by mutual
      agreement, and without invitation, at the house of a
      common friend. [U.S.] --Bartlett.
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   Syn: Wonder; astonishment; amazement.
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WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

surprise
    n 1: the astonishment you feel when something totally unexpected
         happens to you
    2: a sudden unexpected event
    3: the act of surprising someone [syn: surprise, surprisal]
    v 1: cause to be surprised; "The news really surprised me"
    2: come upon or take unawares; "She surprised the couple"; "He
       surprised an interesting scene"
    3: attack by storm; attack suddenly [syn: storm, surprise]