suddenly, adv. (a.)
(ˈsʌd(ə)nlɪ)
Forms: see sudden; also 4–5 sodonly, 7 suddainsly, sudingly.
[f. sudden + -ly2.]
1. Without warning or preparation; all at once, all of a sudden.
In some contexts the implication is rather ‘At an unexpected moment, unexpectedly’.
| c 1290 S. Engl. Leg. 19 In ȝwuche manere it were Þat it queinte so sodeinliche al þat liȝt þat huy bere. a 1300 Cursor M. 11609 Vte o þis coue þan sagh þai glide Mani dragons wel sodanli. c 1330 Spec. Guy Warw. 882 Worch while þu mait, For sodeyneliche þu miht be caiht. 1375 Barbour Bruce vii. 505 He thoucht than with his cheuelry To cum apon hym suddanly. 1390 Gower Conf. II. 21 As a man that sodeinli A gost behelde, so fare I. c 1400 Destr. Troy 12494 Sodonly the softe winde vnsoberly blew. 1470–85 Malory Arthur iii. xii. 114 Ye cam in sodenly ther as we were at the hyghe feest and tooke awey this lady. 1508 Fisher 7 Penit. Ps. cxxx. Wks. (1876) 202 The cogytacyons whiche come sodeynly vnto the mynde. 1530 Rastell Bk. Purgat. iii. xv. L iv b, Yf such a synner dye sodenly, and before he haue had any tyme to take any repentaunce. 1577–82 Breton Flourish upon Fancie Wks. (Grosart) I. 9/2 Ouer this lies a Bridge, but trust mee, verie weake: For when you are in midst therof, then sodenly twyll breake. 1615 Sandys Trav. 7 Cowardize is joyned with their crueltie, who dare do nothing but sodainly, vpon advantages. 1671 Milton P.R. ii. 298 He view'd it round, When suddenly a man before him stood. 1736 Butler Anal. i. ii. Wks. 1874 I. 41 These natural punishments or miseries often come, not by degrees, but suddenly. 1774 Pennant Tour Scot. in 1772, 331 Here the water suddenly narrows. 1860 Tyndall Glac. i. xi. 73 One star..suddenly made its appearance above one of the Aiguilles. 1879 Farrar St. Paul (1883) 166 No one likes to be suddenly awakened. |
b. Zool. and Bot. Sharply, abruptly.
| 1843 [see 5]. 1847 W. E. Steele Field Bot. 189 Leaves suddenly acuminate. |
† 2. Without delay, forthwith, promptly, immediately, directly, at once. Obs.
| c 1330 Arth. & Merl. 607 Þat þai schuld sodeinliche Smite of his heued hastiliche & no word no speke him to. c 1375 Sc. Leg. Saints xxxii. (Justin) 424 He hyr herd sodendely, & gert cese þat mortalyte. c 1386 Chaucer Merch. T. 165, I prey yow shapeth for my mariage Al sodeynly, for I wol nat abyde. 1423 Jas. I Kingis Q. cxxvi, Straught vnto the presence sodeynly Off dame Minerue,..Gude hope..led me. c 1475 Harl. Contin. Higden (Rolls) VIII. 556 As soone as he was crowned, enoynted, and sacred, anone sodaynly he was chaunged into a new man. 1513 Bradshaw St. Werburge ii. 1409 Wherwith saynt Werburge departed sodeinly To the blys of heuyn. 1593 Shakes. 3 Hen. VI, iv. ii. 4 Speake suddenly, my Lords, are wee all friends? 1650 Bulwer Anthropomet. 116 When the water enters the Weazon, men are suddenly drowned. 1669 Sturmy Mariner's Mag. v. xiii. 85 Be sure when you have Fired the Fuse, suddenly to cast it [sc. the grenade] out of your hand. 1682 Norris Hierocles 82 If we fall into sin, suddenly to betake ourselves to Justice as to a soveraign Medicine. |
† 3. Without premeditation; on the spur of the moment; extempore. Obs.
| 1340 Ayenb. 64 Huanne me zuereþ be tyene, and sodaynlyche, huer-of him uorþingþ efterward. a 1450 Myrc 1485 He þat doth hyt sodenlyche, And afterwarde hym reweth myche. c 1450 Holland Howlat 120, I can nocht say sudanelye..Bot I sall call my cardinallis and my counsall. 1591 [see sudden A. 7]. 1593 Shakes. 2 Hen. VI, ii. i. 130 Sight may distinguish of Colours: But suddenly to nominate them all, It is impossible. 1656 N. Bernard Life J. Usher 22 Their readinesse in the Scripture was marvellous, being able suddainly to have repeated any part of the Bible. |
† 4. After a comparatively short time; at an early date, early; soon, speedily; shortly (after).
This sense tends to coalesce with 1.
| c 1500 Lancelot 1874 Qwho that sal exced His rent, he fallith sodandly in nede. 1588 Kyd Househ. Philos. Wks. (1901) 271 Salt and Vineger doo not onely keep flesh long time sweete and seazoned, but fish and fowle, which will bee suddainly corrupt. 1634 Sir T. Herbert Trav. 210 Cut a small hole in euery tree, into which immediatly effudes the liquour, so that suddenly all the holes..are full. 1645 G. Digby in Nicholas Papers (Camden) 65 You shall as suddainly as may be receive a particular accompt of them both. 1671 Milton Samson 1565, I refrain, too suddenly To utter what will come at last too soon. 1681 Knox Ceylon iii. iv. 78 Either just before or very suddenly after this Voice, the King always cuts off People. 1766 Goldsm. Vic. W. xx, How he had been taught the art of a cognoscento so very suddenly. |
† b. Not long after the time of speaking or writing; shortly; very soon. Obs.
| 1544 in Froude Hist. Eng. (1858) IV. 305, I will not bid you good night. Suddenly we shall meet again in the kingdom of heaven. 1596 Shakes. 1 Hen. IV, i. iii. 294 When time is ripe, which will be sodainly. 1661 Prince Rupert in 11th Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm. App. v. 9, I hope the Duke of Yorke will have given order for a Fregatte for me, soe that I hope suddainsly to see you. 1676 G. Etherege Man of Mode ii. i, Now practising a famous Ballat, which will Be suddenly danc'd at the Bear-Garden. 1680 Bunyan's Mr. Badman Bookseller's Advt. (1905) 15 There is now in the Press, and will be suddenly published, An Exposition on the 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10{supt}{suph}, Chapters on the Hebrews. 1703 Petiver Musei Petiv. 95 Plants and Insects..some of which I shall suddenly figure. 1711 Addison Spect. No. 239 ¶12, I shall very suddenly give my Reader an Account of the whole Art of Cavilling. |
5. When qualifying an adj. in the attrib. position suddenly is often joined to it by a hyphen.
| 1772 Nugent Hist. Fr. Gerund II. 147 One of those lazy, suddenly-learned gentry. 1843 Penny Cycl. XXV. 269/2 It tends to Trochus acutus in its suddenly-pointed spire. 1900 Westm. Gaz. 16 Aug. 1/2 One of those suddenly-arising emergencies. |
† 6. Used as adj. Quick, rapid. Obs. rare—1.
| 1556 Aurelio & Isab. (1608) I vij, Youre thoughte is soudainlier than ower tonge. [1600 Gowries Conspiracie B ij, The suddainly comming of his Maiestie vnlooked for there.] |