Obs. Also 6 -cion, -cyon, etc. [ad. patristic L. *surreptio, -ōnem, n. of action f. surrēpĕre, f. sur- = SUB- 2, 24 + rēpĕre to creep.] An unperceived creeping or stealing upon one or into one’s mind (of evil thoughts or suggestions); hence, a sudden or surprise attack (of temptation, sin): freq. used to describe either the kind of sin or the subjective state of the sinner.
The ultimate source of this use appears to be Deut. xv. 9 (Vulg.) ‘Cave ne forte subrepar tibi impia cogitatio.’
1502. Ord. Crysten Men (W. de W., 1506), IV. xxii. Yf by precypytacyon or surrepcyon in worde without consentynge of wyll a man swereth false.
1529. More, Suppl. Soulys, Wks. 321/2. Some sodayne waueryng of the mynd in time of prayer, or some surrepcion & crepyng in of vain glory.
1557. Edgeworth, Serm., 285. Surreption or priuy creping of matters into mens mindes.
1624. Gee, Hold Fast, 20. The Deuill gaineth ground of vs onely by Surreption.
1625. Ussher, Answ. Jesuit, 142. The Church … sometimes judgeth by surreption and ignorance, whereas God doth alwayes judge according to the truth.
1645. Hammond, Sinnes, 4. Satan … assaulting me … on the suddaine, when I have not time, to use those meanes which I might otherwise use, which we call suddaine surreption.
c. 1650. Jer. Taylor, Devotions Occas. Sacram., iii. All surreptions and sudden incursions of temptation.
1680. H. Dodwell, Two Lett. (1691), 80. Hypocrisy by Surreption … is both less dangerous, and less imputable than Hypocrisy by design.
a. 1711. Ken, Man. Prayers, Wks. (1838), 427. Even the just man falls seven times a day, through sins of ignorance, or sudden surreption, or inadvertency.
b. A lapse due to such an attack.
1536. St. Papers Hen. VIII., I. 509. A lightnes gyven in a maner by a naughtye nature to a commonaltie, and a wonderous sodayne surreption of gentilmen.
1641. M. Frank, Serm. (1672), 82. That it was but a slip, or weakness or surreption.
1649. Jer. Taylor, Gt. Exemp., I. Disc. ii. 68. Sometimes such surreptions and smaller undecencies are pardoned.
