much to someone's surprise

: great in quantity, amount, extent, or degree

: great in importance or significance

: many in number

: to a great degree or extent : considerably

: very

: frequently, often

: a great quantity, amount, extent, or degree

: something considerable or impressive

: some person : somebody

: an attack made without warning

: a taking unawares

: something that surprises

: to attack unexpectedly

: to take unawares

: to detect or elicit by a taking unawares