SUDDEN

sudden

(adjective) happening without warning or in a short space of time; “a sudden storm”; “a sudden decision”; “a sudden cure”

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology

Adjective

sudden (comparative more sudden, superlative most sudden)

Happening quickly and with little or no warning.

(obsolete) Hastily prepared or employed; quick; rapid.

(obsolete) Hasty; violent; rash; precipitate.

Synonyms

• (happening quickly): abrupt, precipitous, subitaneous; see also sudden

• (hasty, rash): hotheaded, impetuous, impulsive; see also reckless

Antonyms

• (happening quickly): gradual; see also gradual

• (all): unsudden

Adverb

sudden (comparative more sudden, superlative most sudden)

(poetic) Suddenly.

Noun

sudden (plural suddens)

(obsolete) An unexpected occurrence; a surprise.

Source: Wiktionary

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.

Sud"den, adv.

Definition: Suddenly; unexpectedly. [R.] Herbs of every leaf that sudden flowered. Milton.

Sud"den, n.

Definition: 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.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition