Suddenness

3 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  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.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              Sudden fear troubleth thee.           --Job xxii.
                                                    10.
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     2. Hastly prepared or employed; quick; rapid.
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              Never was such a sudden scholar made. --Shak.
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              The apples of Asphaltis, appearing goodly to the
              sudden eye.                           --Milton.
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     3. Hasty; violent; rash; precipitate. [Obs.] --Shak.
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     Syn: Unexpected; unusual; abrupt; unlooked-for.
          [1913 Webster] -- {Sud"den*ly}, adv. -- {Sud"den*ness},
          n.
          [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  suddenness
       n : the quality of happening with headlong haste or without
           warning [syn: {abruptness}, {precipitateness}, {precipitance},
            {precipitancy}]

From Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0 [moby-thes]:

  28 Moby Thesaurus words for "suddenness":
     abruptness, alacrity, expeditiousness, feverishness, furiousness,
     haste, hastiness, hurriedness, impatience, impetuosity,
     impetuousness, impulsiveness, inexpectation, overhastiness,
     precipitance, precipitancy, precipitateness, precipitation,
     precipitatousness, precipitousness, promptness, quickness,
     rashness, recklessness, speed, swiftness, unanticipation,
     unexpectedness