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sudden

adjective

  1. in a short period of time
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Wiktionary

Pronunciation: /ˈsʌd.ən/ / [ˈsʌd.n̩]

adj

Etymology: From Middle English sodeyn, sodain, from Anglo-Norman sodein, from Old French sodain, subdain (“immediate, sudden”), from Vulgar Latin *subitānus (“sudden”), from Latin subitāneus (“sudden”), from subitus (“sudden", literally, "that which has come stealthily”), originally the past participle of subīre (“to come or go stealthily”), from sub (“under”) + īre (“go”). Doublet of subitaneous. Displaced native Old English fǣrlīċ.

  1. Occurring quickly with little or no warning or expectation; instantly.

    “The sudden drop in temperature left everyone cold and confused.”

    “From lightninges and tempeſtes, from plage, peſtilence, and famine, from battayle and murther, and from ſodayn death. / Good lord deliver us.”

  2. Hastily prepared or employed; quick; rapid.

    “Never was such a sudden scholar made.”

    “Thus these pious flourishes and colours, examined thoroughly, are like the apples of Asphaltis, appearing goodly to the sudden eye; but look well upon them, or at least but touch them, and they turn into cinders.”

  3. Hasty; violent; rash; precipitate.

    “I have no joy of this contract to-night: / It is too rash, too unadvised, too sudden;”

adv

Etymology: From Middle English sodeyn, sodain, from Anglo-Norman sodein, from Old French sodain, subdain (“immediate, sudden”), from Vulgar Latin *subitānus (“sudden”), from Latin subitāneus (“sudden”), from subitus (“sudden", literally, "that which has come stealthily”), originally the past participle of subīre (“to come or go stealthily”), from sub (“under”) + īre (“go”). Doublet of subitaneous. Displaced native Old English fǣrlīċ.

  1. Suddenly.

    “Herbs of every leaf that sudden flowered.”

noun

Etymology: From Middle English sodeyn, sodain, from Anglo-Norman sodein, from Old French sodain, subdain (“immediate, sudden”), from Vulgar Latin *subitānus (“sudden”), from Latin subitāneus (“sudden”), from subitus (“sudden", literally, "that which has come stealthily”), originally the past participle of subīre (“to come or go stealthily”), from sub (“under”) + īre (“go”). Doublet of subitaneous. Displaced native Old English fǣrlīċ.

  1. An unexpected occurrence; a surprise.