EDITED
Surprise (verb)
- Cause (someone) to feel mild astonishment or shock.
- Capture, attack, or discover suddenly and unexpectedly.
http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/surpriseAstonhish (verb)
- Surprise or impress (someone) greatly
http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/astonish ("off-topic". To me, it is surprising that the same dictionary should use "surprise" to explain "astonish", and vice-versa.)
In the following passage, from an old issue of The English Teaching Journal, "surprised" and "astonished" are said to have a difference in meaning, other than the intensity of the feeling.
The university professor slipped his arm round the waist of the housemaid just as his wife entered the room. "Really, George", she exclaimed, "I'm surprised at you!" "To the contrary, my dear," he replied, "it is we who are surprised. You are astonished."
This was published about forty-five years ago, even though the anecdote seems to antedate it by over a century, as referenced by @Erik Kowal in his comment below. In addition, I've been told such use of "surprise" is outdated. All this said, here is my question: Is this use of "surprise" (catching somebody "red-handed") still current usage?
Best Answer
To surprise someone can also mean to catch them by surprise, usually in some surreptitious (and often improper) act.
The professor quips that his wife has surprised him and the housemaid in illicit canoodling.
ADDED:
Yes, the sense of catch in the course of a (usually) improper act is still current. Here are some recent uses from Google: