English → Latin
“surprise” in Latin
obstupefaciōto astonish, amaze, astound, stupefy; to be stunned, amazed, paralysedobstupēscōto become numb or stupefied; to be astonished, astounded or amazedstupefaciōto make, or become, stupid, senseless or numb; to stun, shock, stupefymīrorto be astonished at, marvel at, admire, be amazed at, wonder atmīrātiōwonder, admirationadmīrātiōwonder, admirationmoveōto move, stir, set in motion; to disturb, shake, remove; to arouse, excite, promote, produce
The English word surprise itself goes back to Latin prehendō, through prendere.
Riddle & Arnold A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon, 1864
surprise v.
To astonish, aliquem in admirationem conjicere: in stuporem dare, obstupefacere (to astound): circumlocution by mihi mirum videtur, etc. You surprise me by, etc., mirum mihi videtur, te, etc.: to be surprised, obstupescere; obstupefieri; stupefieri (to be astonished; also, stupor me invadit; aliquid stupidum me tenet); mirari, admirari, demirari aliquid (accusative with infinitive or quod): I am surprised at your not writing to me, miror te ad me nihil scribere: I am surprised at your not laughing, miror quod non rideas, or te non ridere.
To come upon unexpectedly, opprimere aliquem (with or without incautum, imprudentem, improviso). To be surprised by the enemy, adventu hostium occupari.
surprise s.
Astonishment, miratio: admiratio. To excite surprise, admirationem efficere, movere, habere: to feel surprise, admiratione affici, admiratio me incendit: to fill anybody with surprise, aliquem in admirationem conjicere: to throw one’s self into an attitude of surprise, in habitum admirationis se fingere (Quint.): to my surprise, mirum mihi videtur; miror.
Sudden arrival or attack, adventus repentinus: impetus repentinus: incursio subita. To take a place by surprise, impetu facto capere: to take anybody by surprise, opprimere aliquem; occupare adventu.
Quick answer
- What is the Latin word for surprise?
- The usual Latin words for “surprise” are obstupefaciō, obstupēscō, stupefaciō; also mīror, mīrātiō, admīrātiō. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.
Entry from J. E. Riddle & T. K. Arnold, A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon (rev. C. Anthon, New York: Harper, 1864), digitised by Fergus J. P. Walsh, CC BY-SA 4.0; Latin markup adapted by latindictionary.co.