sudden

sudden
\ \ [13] The etymological notion underlying sudden is of something approaching stealthily or without warning, so that it takes one by surprise. It comes via Anglo-Norman sudein from late Latin subitānus, an alteration of Latin subitāneussudden’. This was derived from subitussudden’, an adjectival use of the past participle of subīreapproach stealthily’. And subīre was a compound verb formed from the prefix sub-, used here in the sense ‘secretly’, and īrego’ (source of English ambition, exit, issue, etc).
\ \ Cf.AMBITION, EXIT, ISSUE

Word origins - 2ed. . 2005.

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  • 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.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • sudden — [sud′ n] adj. [ME sodain < OFr < VL * subitanus, for L subitaneus, sudden, extended < subitus, pp. of subire, to approach, go stealthily < sub , under + ire, to go or come: see YEAR] 1. a) happening or coming unexpectedly; not… …   English World dictionary

  • Sudden — Sud den, n. An unexpected occurrence; a surprise. [1913 Webster] {All of a sudden}, {On a sudden}, {Of a sudden}, sooner than was expected; without the usual preparation; suddenly. [1913 Webster] How art thou lost! how on a sudden lost! Milton.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • sudden — late 13c., perhaps via Anglo Fr. sodein, from O.Fr. subdain immediate, sudden, from V.L. *subitanus, variant of L. subitaneus sudden, from subitus come or go up stealthily, from sub up to + ire come, go. Phrase all of a sudden first attested… …   Etymology dictionary

  • sudden — ► ADJECTIVE ▪ occurring or done quickly and unexpectedly. ● (all) of a sudden Cf. ↑of a sudden DERIVATIVES suddenness noun. ORIGIN Old French sudein, from Latin subitus …   English terms dictionary

  • Sudden — Sud den, adv. Suddenly; unexpectedly. [R.] [1913 Webster] Herbs of every leaf that sudden flowered. Milton. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • sudden — index brief, immediate (at once), impulsive (rash), precipitate, spontaneous, summary, unanticipated …   Law dictionary

  • sudden — *hasty, *precipitate, headlong, abrupt, impetuous Analogous words: quickened, hurried, speeded, accelerated (see SPEED vb): *fast, rapid, swift, fleet, expeditious …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • sudden — [adj] unexpected; happening quickly abrupt, accelerated, acute, expeditious, fast, flash, fleet, hasty, headlong, hurried, immediate, impetuous, impromptu, impulsive, out of the blue*, precipitant, precipitate, precipitous, quick, quickened,… …   New thesaurus

  • Sudden — Nikki Sudden (geboren als Adrian Nicholas Godfrey) (* 19. Juli 1956 in London; † 26. März 2006 in New York City) war ein englischer Musiker, Sänger, Gitarrist, Produzent und Singer Songwriter. Inhaltsverzeichnis 1 Leben und Werk 2 Stellenwert in… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Sudden — James Green aka Sudden is a fictional character created by the author Oliver Strange and after his death carried on by Frederick H. Christian. The books are centred around a gunfighter in the American Wild West era, who is in search of two men… …   Wikipedia

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