What is "surprisal"

Surprisal \Sur*pris"al\, n. [See Surprise, n.] The act of surprising, or state of being surprised; surprise.

How to secure the lady from surprisal.
--Milton.

Because death is uncertain, let us prevent its surprisal.
--Barrow.

n. 1 (context obsolete military English) A surprise attack or ambush; a sudden or unexpected assault. (16th-19th c.) 2 (context obsolete English) A sudden coming-upon someone or something unexpectedly or unawares. (17th c.) 3 (context obsolete English) A surprising event or occurrence. (17th-19th c.) 4 (context obsolete English) The feeling caused by being surprised; surprise, shock, amazement. (17th-19th c.)

n. the act of surprising someone [syn: surprise]