"A Surprize is ... a dish ... which promising little from its first appearance, when open abounds with all sorts of variety." [W. King, "Cookery," 1708]
The verb is from 1474. Surprise party originally was a military detachment (1841); festive sense is attested from 1858."De cette alliance nouvelle, car jusqu'ici les décors et les costumes d'une part, la chorégraphie d'autre part, n'avaient entre eux qu'un lien factice, il este résulté, dans 'Parade,' une sorte de surréalisme." [Apollinaire, "Notes to 'Parade' "]
"A semblance of truth sufficient to procure for these shadows of imagination that willing suspension of disbelief for the moment, which constitutes poetic faith." [Coleridge, "Biographia Literaria," 1817]Meaning "action of hanging by a support from above" is attested from 1546. Suspension bridge first recorded 1821.