SUDDEN


Meaning of SUDDEN in English

I. ˈsəd ə n adjective

Etymology: Middle English sodain, sodein, from Middle French sodain, sudain, from Latin subitaneus, from subitus sudden, unexpected, from past participle of subire to come up, occur unexpectedly, from sub- up + ire to go — more at sub- , issue

1.

a. : happening without previous notice or with very brief notice : coming or occurring unexpectedly : not foreseen or prepared for

caught out walking by a sudden thundershower

took a sudden almost miraculous turn for the better

b. : changing angle or character all at once : precipitous

slopes gradually downwards toward the sudden drop of the icefall — John Hunt and Edmund Hillary

: abrupt

this ridge forms an important and sudden break between the land of abundant ground water … and the dry land — P.E.James

c. : come upon or met with unexpectedly

watching for sudden turns in the road

2.

a. : characterized by or manifesting hastiness : rash , headlong

a red setter … too sudden to be a friend — May Sarton

b. obsolete : characterized by swift action : fast-moving , quick , alert

appearing goodly to the sudden eye — John Milton

3.

a. archaic : made, provided, brought about, or acting in a short time : prompt , immediate

he acquaints the citizens with the king's peril … and requests their sudden assistance — John Cleveland

hire assassins or put sudden poison in my evening drink — P.B.Shelley

b. obsolete : executed or executing on the spur of the moment : impromptu , extempore

do it without invention, suddenly, as I with sudden … speech purpose to answer — Shakespeare

c. obsolete : shortly to come or be : early , soon

tomorrow, in my judgment, is too sudden — Shakespeare

Synonyms: see precipitate

II. adverb

: suddenly

sudden I heard a voice — Alfred Tennyson

III. noun

( -s )

obsolete : an unexpected occurrence : emergency

- of a sudden

Webster's New International English Dictionary.      Новый международный словарь английского языка Webster.