suddenness
(ˈsʌd(ə)nnɪs)
Forms: see sudden a.; also 4 sodeynesse, 7 suddeness.
[f. sudden a. + -ness.]
1. The quality of taking place without warning or preparation; unexpectedness.
| 1382 Wyclif Wisd. v. 2 Seende thei..shul merueilen in the sodeynesse [Vulg. subitatione] of the vnhopid helthe. a 1586 Sidney Arcadia iii. xxiv. Wks. 1912 I. 492 Who when he saw her fal, had his owne rage stayed a little with the soddennes of her destruction. 1624 Massinger Renegado ii. v, The suddenness Of their departure..Deterr'd us. 1685 Baxter Paraphr. N.T., 1 Tim. iii. 6 The suddenness of the Light which they have received so transporteth them, that [etc.]. 1797 S. & Ht. Lee Canterb. T. (1799) I. 6 The suddenness of his excursion had caused Montford to be but ill provided with letters of recommendation. 1838 Thirlwall Greece xxx. IV. 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.
| 1580 Hollyband Treas. Fr. Tong., Hastiveté, hastinesse, sodennesse. 1651 Hobbes Leviath. ii. xxvii. 158 There is no suddennesse of Passion sufficient for a totall Excuse. 1876 Hardy Ethelberta (1890) 188, 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.
| 1596 Spenser State Irel. Wks. (Globe) 615/2 [He] speedely rann forward, accounting his suddaynness his most advauntage. 1599 Sandys Europæ Spec. (1632) 188 They have..ruined those powerfull..Empires in the sodainnesse of an instant. 1615 Crooke Body of Man 543 The swiftnesse and suddennesse of the motion of the eye-liddes. a 1661 Fuller Worthies, Staffordsh. (1662) 39, I know not whether more to admire at the suddeness of payment, or vastness of the Sum. 1750 Carte Hist. Eng. II. 2 The suddenness of whose coronation did not prevent protests being made against it. 1837 Carlyle Rev. France ii. i. xi, Sharp Bretons, with their Gaelic suddenness. 1841 Spalding Italy III. 286 The suddenness of the chill which accompanies the evening twilight. 1885 Manch. Exam. 5 Nov. 5/3 With surprising suddenness and heartiness they broke out in loud cheers. |
† 4. Steepness, abruptness. Obs. rare.
| 1594–7 Donne Sat. 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. |