A state of mental disturbance or confusion; madness, frenzy; a wild fit. Also: a nightmare (literal and figurative). Frequently in in a widden-dream…

a sursaut: of a sudden.

at a wap: at one blow, suddenly.

in a swing: suddenly. (Cf. French tout d'un coup.) Obsolete.

In adverbial phrases formed with prepositions. = suddenly, adv. (chiefly in sense A. 1). onor upon a (or the) sudden (also †on sudden, o' the sudden…

In adverbial phrases formed with prepositions. = suddenly, adv. (chiefly in sense A. 1). at a (orthe) sudden. Obsolete.

In adverbial phrases formed with prepositions. = suddenly, adv. (chiefly in sense A. 1). in a sudden. Obsolete.

In adverbial phrases formed with prepositions. = suddenly, adv. (chiefly in sense A. 1). of a sudden (earlier †of the sudden): now usually in all…

Abruptly, suddenly: esp. in phrase to turn short (round).

Very quickly or abruptly. Obsolete. rare.

on (or upon) the start: (probably) suddenly, without warning; (also) precipitately, hurriedly. Obsolete.

With, or as with, a slap or smart quick blow; quickly, suddenly, without warning or notice. In general use (frequently parenthetic); also with off…

At a blow; with sudden violence; suddenly and forcibly.

The verb stem of bob, v.2 or bob, v.3, used to denote sudden action.

Suddenly; without warning.

Abruptly.

Abruptly, suddenly.

Of a sudden, suddenly.