adv. [f. prec. + -LY2.] In a surprising manner or degree.
† 1. By, or in the way of, surprise; unexpectedly.
1667. Waterhouse, Narr. Fire Lond., 167. Generosity abhors to take an advantage poorly and surprisingly against any man.
1730. Phil. Trans., XXXVI. 444. There broke such a violent Clap of Thunder,… that she and three of her Children were very surprizingly struck down.
1742. H. Baker, Microsc., II. vii. 108. Changes are produced in Fluids surprizingly and suddenly.
2. So as to cause surprise; astonishingly, wonderfully; † admirably.
1661. Boyle, Style of Script. (1675), 169. Maimed and abrupt sentences, words surprisingly misplaced.
1681. Flavel, Meth. Grace, xix. 343. How surprizingly glorious the sight of Jesus Christ will be to them.
1743. Emerson, Fluxions, 285. The Forces exerted on these small Bodies must be surprizingly great.
1756. Nugent, Gr. Tour, Italy, III. 52. The church of St. Mark is … surprizingly enriched with marble and mosaic work.
1825. Cobbett, Rur. Rides, 62. That wood breeds maggots surprisingly.
1866. Geo. Eliot, F. Holt, ii. Surprisingly little altered by the fifteen years.
So Surprisingness, surprising character, unexpectedness.
1686. J. Scott, Chr. Life, I. II. iii. 100. The life of Wit consists in the Surprisingness of its Conceits and Expressions.
1737. L. Clarke, Hist. Bible, VIII. (1740), 509. The surprizingness of this discovery.
