Any thing which causes surprise by its strangeness. "It expresses, " says Mr. Cogan, "an embarrassment of the mind after it is somewhat recovered from the first percussion of surprise. It is the effect produced by an interesting subject which has been suddenly presented to the mind, but concerning which there are many intricacies, either respecting the cause or manner in which any event has taken place, motives of extraordinary conduct, &c." How it differs from admiration, see ADMIRATION.