Emily Dickinson Lexicon

SUR-MOUNT'ED, pp.

Overcome; conquered; surpassed.

SUR-MOUNT'ER, n.

One that surmounts.

SUR-MOUNT'ING, ppr.

Rising above; overcoming; surpassing.

SUR-MUL'LET, n.

A fish of the genus Mullus, (M. barbatus,) remarkable for the brilliancy of its colors, and for the changes which they undergo as the fish expires. The name is also applied to other species of the genus. – Ed. Encyc.

SUR'MU-LOT, n.

A name given by Buffon to the brown or Norway rat. – Ed. Encyc.

SUR'NAME, n. [Fr. surnom; It. soprannome; Sp. sobrenombre; L. super and nomen.]

1. An additional name; a name or appellation added to the baptismal or Christian name, and which becomes a family name. Surnames, with us, originally designated occupation, estate, place of residence, or some particular thing or event that related to the person. Thus William Rufus or red; Edmund Ironsides; Robert Smith, or the smith; William Turner.
2. An appellation added to the original name. My surname Coriolanus. – Shak.

SUR-NAME, v.t. [Fr. surnommer.]

To name or call by an appellation added to the original name. Another shall subscribe with his hand to the Lord, and surname himself by the name of Israel. – Is. xliv. And Simon he surnamed Peter. – Mark iii.

SUR-NAM-ED, pp.

Called by a name added to the Christian or original name.

SUR-NAM-ING, ppr.

Naming by an appellation added to the original name.

SUR-OX'YD, n. [sur and oxyd.]

An oxyd containing a greater number of equivalents of oxygen, than of the base, with which it is combined. [French. Not used.]

SUR-OX'Y-DATE, v.t.

To form a suroxyd. [Not used.]

SUR-PASS, v.t. [Fr. surpasser; sur and passer, to pass beyond.]

To exceed; to excel; to go beyond in any thing good or bad. Homer surpasses modern poets in sublimity. Pope surpasses most other poets in smoothness of versification. Achilles surpassed the other Greeks in strength and courage. Clodius surpassed all men in the profligacy of his life. Perhaps no man ever surpassed Washington in genuine patriotism and integrity of life.

SUR-PASS-A-BLE, a.

That may be exceeded. – Dict.

SUR-PASS-ED, pp.

Exceeded; excelled.

SUR-PASS-ING, ppr.

1. Exceeding; going beyond.
2. adj. Excellent in an eminent degree; exceeding others. O thou, that with surpassing glory crown'd. – Milton.

SUR-PASS-ING-LY, adv.

In a very excellent manner; or in a degree surpassing others.

SUR-PASS-ING-NESS, n.

The state of surpassing.

SUR-PLICE, n. [sur'plis; Fr. surplis; Sp. sobrepelliz; L. super pellicium, above the robe of fur.]

A white garment worn by clergymen of some denominations over their other dress, in their ministrations. It is particularly the habit of the clergy of the church of England.

SUR'PLIC-ED, a.

Wearing a surplice. – Mallet.

SUR'PLICE-FEES, n. [surplice and fees.]

Fees paid to the clergy for occasional duties. – Warton.

SUR'PLUS, n. [Fr. sur and plus, L. id., more.]

1. Overplus; that which remains when use is satisfied; excess beyond what is prescribed or wanted. In the United States, the surplus of wheat and rye not required for consumption or exportation, is distilled.
2. In law, the residuum of an estate, after the debts and legacies are paid.

SUR-PLUS'AGE, n.

1. Surplus; as, surplusage of grain or goods beyond what is wanted.
2. In law, something in the pleadings or proceedings not necessary or relevant to the case, and which may be rejected.
3. In accounts, a greater disbursement than the charge of the accountant amounteth to. – Rees.

SUR-PRI-SAL, n. [surpri'zal. See Surprise.]

The act of surprising or coming upon suddenly and unexpectedly; or the state of being taken unawares.

SUR-PRISE, n.

1. The act of coming upon unawares, or of taking suddenly and without preparation. The fort was taken by surprise.
2. The state of being taken unexpectedly.
3. An emotion excited by something happening suddenly and unexpectedly, as something novel told or presented to view. Nothing could exceed his surprise at the narration of these adventures. It expresses less than wonder and astonishment.
4. A dish with nothing in it. [Not in use.] – King.

SUR-PRISE, v.t. [surpri'ze ; Fr. from surprendre; sur and prendre, to take; It. sorpresa, sorprendere; Sp. sorpresa, sorprehender; L. super, supra, and prendo, to take.]

1. To come or fall upon suddenly and unexpectedly; to take unawares. The castle of Macduff I will surprise. – Shak. Who can speak / The mingled passions that surpris'd his heart? – Thomson.
2. To strike with wonder or astonishment by something sudden, unexpected or remarkable, either in conduct, words or story, or by the appearance of something unusual. Thus we are surprised at desperate acts of heroism, or at the narration of wonderful events, or at the sight of things of uncommon magnitude or curious structure.
3. To confuse; to throw the mind into disorder by something suddenly presented to the view or to the mind. Up he starts, discover'd and surpris'd. – Milton.