sudden

sudden
suddenly, adv.suddenness, n.
/sud"n/, adj.
1. happening, coming, made, or done quickly, without warning, or unexpectedly: a sudden attack.
2. occurring without transition from the previous form, state, etc.; abrupt: a sudden turn.
3. impetuous; rash.
4. Archaic. quickly made or provided.
5. Obs. unpremeditated.
adv.
6. Literary. suddenly.
n.
7. Obs. an unexpected occasion or occurrence.
8. all of a sudden, without warning; unexpectedly; suddenly.
Also, on a sudden.
[1250-1300; ME sodain (adj. and adv.) < MF < L subitaneus going or coming stealthily, equiv. to subit(us) sudden, taking by surprise (see SUBITO) + -aneus composite adj. suffix, equiv. to -an(us) -AN + -eus -EOUS]
Syn. 1, 2. unforeseen, unanticipated. SUDDEN, UNEXPECTED, ABRUPT describe acts, events, or conditions for which there has been no preparation or gradual approach. SUDDEN refers to the quickness of an occurrence, although the event may have been expected: a sudden change in the weather. UNEXPECTED emphasizes the lack of preparedness for what occurs or appears: an unexpected crisis. ABRUPT characterizes something involving a swift adjustment; the effect is often unpleasant, unfavorable, or the cause of dismay: He had an abrupt change in manner. The road came to an abrupt end.
Ant. 1, 2. gradual, foreseen.

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • Sudden — Sud den, a. [OE. sodian, sodein, OF. sodain, sudain, F. soudain, L. subitaneus, fr. subitus sudden, that has come unexpectedly, p. p. of subire to come on, to steal upon; sub under, secretly + ire to go. See {Issue}, and cf. {Subitaneous}.] 1.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • sudden — [sud′ n] adj. [ME sodain < OFr < VL * subitanus, for L subitaneus, sudden, extended < subitus, pp. of subire, to approach, go stealthily < sub , under + ire, to go or come: see YEAR] 1. a) happening or coming unexpectedly; not… …   English World dictionary

  • Sudden — Sud den, n. An unexpected occurrence; a surprise. [1913 Webster] {All of a sudden}, {On a sudden}, {Of a sudden}, sooner than was expected; without the usual preparation; suddenly. [1913 Webster] How art thou lost! how on a sudden lost! Milton.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • sudden — late 13c., perhaps via Anglo Fr. sodein, from O.Fr. subdain immediate, sudden, from V.L. *subitanus, variant of L. subitaneus sudden, from subitus come or go up stealthily, from sub up to + ire come, go. Phrase all of a sudden first attested… …   Etymology dictionary

  • sudden — ► ADJECTIVE ▪ occurring or done quickly and unexpectedly. ● (all) of a sudden Cf. ↑of a sudden DERIVATIVES suddenness noun. ORIGIN Old French sudein, from Latin subitus …   English terms dictionary

  • Sudden — Sud den, adv. Suddenly; unexpectedly. [R.] [1913 Webster] Herbs of every leaf that sudden flowered. Milton. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • sudden — index brief, immediate (at once), impulsive (rash), precipitate, spontaneous, summary, unanticipated …   Law dictionary

  • sudden — *hasty, *precipitate, headlong, abrupt, impetuous Analogous words: quickened, hurried, speeded, accelerated (see SPEED vb): *fast, rapid, swift, fleet, expeditious …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • sudden — [adj] unexpected; happening quickly abrupt, accelerated, acute, expeditious, fast, flash, fleet, hasty, headlong, hurried, immediate, impetuous, impromptu, impulsive, out of the blue*, precipitant, precipitate, precipitous, quick, quickened,… …   New thesaurus

  • Sudden — Nikki Sudden (geboren als Adrian Nicholas Godfrey) (* 19. Juli 1956 in London; † 26. März 2006 in New York City) war ein englischer Musiker, Sänger, Gitarrist, Produzent und Singer Songwriter. Inhaltsverzeichnis 1 Leben und Werk 2 Stellenwert in… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Sudden — James Green aka Sudden is a fictional character created by the author Oliver Strange and after his death carried on by Frederick H. Christian. The books are centred around a gunfighter in the American Wild West era, who is in search of two men… …   Wikipedia

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