a. [f. SURPRISE v. + -ABLE.]
1. That may be surprised; liable to surprise or unexpected attack.
a. 1639. Spottiswood, Hist. Ch. Scot., VI. (1677), 415. Upon intelligence that the Castle of Carlile … was surprisable.
1654–66. Earl Orrery, Parthen. (1676), 52. Rendring us … the more secure, and consequently the more surprizable.
1865. Swinburne, Chastelard, IV. i. 150. Is not your spirit surprisable in sleep? Have you no evil dreams?
¶ 2. Causing surprise, surprising. (illiterate.)
1782. Miss Burney, Cecilia, V. xii. A little mean-looking man … whispered,… ‘It’s surprizeable to me … you can behave so out of the way!’
