Category:Sudden

Sud"den, a. Etym: [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.

Sudden Sud"den, adv.

Defn: suddenly; unexpectedly. [r.] Herbs of every leaf that sudden flowered. Milton.

Sudden Sud"den, n.

Defn: 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.