suddennessn.
/ˈsʌd(ə)nnəs/, U.S. /ˈsədə(n)nəs/ 1. The quality of taking place without warning or preparation; unexpectedness.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > expectation > suddenness > [noun]
suddennessa1382
suddentya1425
sudden1575
abruptness1604
the mind > mental capacity > expectation > surprise, unexpectedness > [noun]
unlookedfornessa1586
unexpectation1611
unexpectedness1615
inexpectation?1623
inexpectedness1626
inexpectancy1643
suddenness1685
surprisingness1685
startlingness1846
a1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(1)) (1850) Wisd. v. 2 Seende thei..shul merueilen in the sodeynesse [L. subitatione] of the vnhopid helthe.
a1586 Sir P. Sidney Arcadia (1590) iii. xxiv. sig. Xx6 Who when he saw her fal, had his owne rage stayed a little with the soddennes of her destruction.
1630 P. Massinger Renegado ii. v. sig. E2 The suddainnesse Of their departure..Deterd vs.
1685 R. Baxter Paraphr. New Test. 1 Tim. iii. 6 The suddenness of the Light which they have received so transporteth them, that [etc.].
1797 H. Lee Canterbury Tales I. 6 The suddenness of his excursion had caused Montford to be but ill provided with letters of recommendation.
1838 C. Thirlwall Hist. Greece (new ed.) IV. xxx. 161 The suddenness of the calamity which had deprived Athens of her navy had prevented the laying in a stock of provisions to meet a long siege.
2. Hastiness, precipitancy. Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > manner of action > rapidity or speed of action or operation > [noun] > haste > sudden
precipitation1502
suddenness1580
precipitance1629
precipitancy1631
1580 C. Hollyband Treasurie French Tong Hastiveté, hastinesse, sodennesse.
1651 T. Hobbes Leviathan ii. xxvii. 158 There is no suddennesse of Passion sufficient for a totall Excuse.
1876 T. Hardy Hand of Ethelberta I. xxviii. 303 I will not urge you to be precipitate... My suddenness perhaps offended you.
3. The quality of being quick to act; immediateness or promptitude in action or movement.This sense tends to coalesce with 1.
ΘΚΠ
the world > time > relative time > immediacy > [noun]
hastinessc1425
maturity1531
swiftness1535
suddennessa1599
abruptness1604
instancy1851
immediacy1856
immediateness1863
a1599 E. Spenser View State Ireland 11 in J. Ware Two Hist. Ireland (1633) [He] speedily ran forward, counting his suddennesse his most advantage.
1599 E. Sandys Europæ Speculum (1632) 188 They have..ruined those powerfull..Empires in the sodainnesse of an instant.
1615 H. Crooke Μικροκοσμογραϕια 543 The swiftnesse and suddennesse of the motion of the eye-liddes.
a1661 T. Fuller Worthies (1662) Staff. 39 I know not whether more to admire at the suddeness of payment, or vastness of the Sum.
1750 T. Carte Gen. Hist. Eng. II. 2 The suddenness of whose coronation did not prevent protests being made against it.
1837 T. Carlyle French Revol. II. i. xi. 81 Sharp Bretons, with their Gaelic suddenness.
1841 W. Spalding Italy & Ital. Islands III. 286 The suddenness of the chill which accompanies the evening twilight.
1885 Manch. Examiner 5 Nov. 5/3 With surprising suddenness and heartiness they broke out in loud cheers.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the earth > land > landscape > high land > slope > [noun] > steep > quality or condition of being
pronity1524
sharpness1585
suddenness1594
abruptness1603
steepiness1609
precipitationa1616
precipice1650
precipitousness1832
1594–7 J. Donne Satires iii. 82 On a huge hill,..Truth stands, and hee that will Reach her, about must, and about must goe; And what the hills suddennes resists, winne so.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1915; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.a1382