Adjacent Words

Sudden definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

SUD'DEN, a. [L. subitaneus.]
1. Happening without previous notice; coming unexpectedly, or without the common preparatives.
And sudden fear troubleth thee. Job 22.
For when they shall say, peace and safety, then sudden destruction cometh upon them. 1 Th 5.
2. Hasty; violent; rash; precipitate; passionate. [Not in use.]
SUD'DEN, n. An unexpected occurrence; surprise. [Not in use.]
On a sudden, sooner than was expected; without the usual preparatives.
How art thou lost, how on a sudden lost!
[Of a sudden, is not usual, and is less elegant.]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

adj
1: happening without warning or in a short space of time; "a sudden storm"; "a sudden decision"; "a sudden cure" [ant: gradual]

Merriam Webster's

I. adjective Etymology: Middle English sodain, from Anglo-French sudain, from Latin subitaneus, from subitus sudden, from past participle of subire to come up, from sub- up + ire to go — more at sub-, issue Date: 14th century 1. a. happening or coming unexpectedly <a sudden shower> b. changing angle or character all at once <a sudden drop in the ocean bottom> 2. marked by or manifesting abruptness or haste <a sudden departure> 3. made or brought about in a short time ; prompt Synonyms: see precipitate • suddenly adverb • suddenness noun II. noun Date: 1558 obsolete an unexpected occurrence ; emergency

Oxford Reference Dictionary

adj. & n. --adj. occurring or done unexpectedly or without warning; abrupt, hurried, hasty (a sudden storm; a sudden departure). --n. archaic a hasty or abrupt occurrence. Phrases and idioms: all of a sudden unexpectedly; hurriedly; suddenly. on a sudden archaic suddenly. sudden death colloq. a decision in a tied game etc. dependent on one move, card, toss of a coin, etc. sudden infant death syndrome Med. = cot-death (see COT(1)). Derivatives: suddenly adv. suddenness n. Etymology: ME f. AF sodein, sudein, OF soudain f. LL subitanus f. L subitaneus f. subitus sudden

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Sudden Sud"den, n. An unexpected occurrence; a surprise. All of a sudden, On a sudden, Of a sudden, sooner than was expected; without the usual preparation; suddenly. How art thou lost! how on a sudden lost! --Milton. He withdrew his opposition all of a sudden. --Thackeray.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

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. Happening without previous notice or with very brief notice; coming unexpectedly, or without the common preparation; immediate; instant; speedy. ``O sudden wo!'' --Chaucer. ``For fear of sudden death.'' --Shak. Sudden fear troubleth thee. --Job xxii. 10. 2. Hastly prepared or employed; quick; rapid. Never was such a sudden scholar made. --Shak. The apples of Asphaltis, appearing goodly to the sudden eye. --Milton. 3. Hasty; violent; rash; precipitate. [Obs.] --Shak. Syn: Unexpected; unusual; abrupt; unlooked-for. -- Sud"den*ly, adv. -- Sud"den*ness, n.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Sudden Sud"den, adv. Suddenly; unexpectedly. [R.] Herbs of every leaf that sudden flowered. --Milton.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

Frequency: The word is one of the 3000 most common words in English. 1. Sudden means happening quickly and unexpectedly. He had been deeply affected by the sudden death of his father-in-law... She started to thank him, but a sudden movement behind him caught her attention... It was all very sudden. ADJ: usu ADJ n • suddenness The enemy seemed stunned by the suddenness of the attack. N-UNCOUNT: oft the N of n 2. If something happens all of a sudden, it happens quickly and unexpectedly. All of a sudden she didn't look sleepy any more. PHRASE: usu PHR with cl, PHR with v

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

a. 1. Unexpected, abrupt, unforeseen, unanticipated, unlooked for, unusual. 2. Quick, rapid, quickly prepared.

Moby Thesaurus

aback, abrupt, abruptly, accelerated, breakneck, breathless, brisk, electrifying, expeditious, extraordinary, fast, fleet, forthwith, hasty, headlong, hurried, immediate, impatient, impetuous, improbable, impulsive, more than expected, nerve-shattering, out-of-the-way, overhasty, panting, past expectation, precipitant, precipitate, precipitous, quick, rapid, rash, reckless, rushing, shocking, short, speedy, startling, suddenly, surprising, swift, unannounced, unanticipated, unanticipatedly, unaware, undivined, unexpected, unexpectedly, unforeseeable, unforeseen, unguessed, unheralded, unhoped for, unlooked-for, unpredictable, unpredicted, unprepared for, unwonted, without warning