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SUDDENNESS
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I. (noun)
Sense 1
Meaning:
The quality of happening with headlong haste or without warning
Synonyms:
abruptness; precipitance; precipitancy; precipitateness; precipitousness; suddenness
Classified under:
Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects
Hypernyms ("suddenness" is a kind of...):
haste; hastiness; hurriedness; hurry; precipitation (overly eager speed (and possible carelessness))
Derivation:
sudden (happening without warning or in a short space of time)
Context examples:
He considered her rather as one who had never thought on the subject enough to be in danger; who had been guarded by youth, a youth of mind as lovely as of person; whose modesty had prevented her from understanding his attentions, and who was still overpowered by the suddenness of addresses so wholly unexpected, and the novelty of a situation which her fancy had never taken into account.
(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)
Then, and with black suddenness, the boat would shoot clear through the foaming crest, bow pointed to the sky, and the whole length of her bottom showing, wet and dark, till she seemed on end.
(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)
To these highflown expressions Elizabeth listened with all the insensibility of distrust; and though the suddenness of their removal surprised her, she saw nothing in it really to lament; it was not to be supposed that their absence from Netherfield would prevent Mr. Bingley's being there; and as to the loss of their society, she was persuaded that Jane must cease to regard it, in the enjoyment of his.
(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)
But more things, and most grievous ones, were happening with equal suddenness.
(White Fang, by Jack London)
The alarm-clock went off, jerking Martin out of sleep with a suddenness that would have given headache to one with less splendid constitution.
(Martin Eden, by Jack London)
The Elfin suddenness with which she pounced upon me with this question, and a searching look, quite disconcerted me for a moment.
(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)
Henry and Eleanor, perceiving nothing in her situation likely to engage their father's particular respect, had seen with astonishment the suddenness, continuance, and extent of his attention; and though latterly, from some hints which had accompanied an almost positive command to his son of doing everything in his power to attach her, Henry was convinced of his father's believing it to be an advantageous connection, it was not till the late explanation at Northanger that they had the smallest idea of the false calculations which had hurried him on.
(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)
I could not give any connected detail yesterday; but the suddenness, and, in one light, the unseasonableness with which the affair burst out, needs explanation; for though the event of the 26th ult., as you will conclude, immediately opened to me the happiest prospects, I should not have presumed on such early measures, but from the very particular circumstances, which left me not an hour to lose.
(Emma, by Jane Austen)
If so, my dear, observed Mr. Micawber, with his usual suddenness of warmth on that subject, as the member of your family—whoever he, she, or it, may be—has kept us waiting for a considerable period, perhaps the Member may now wait MY convenience.
(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)
The suddenness with which he dropped it, when he perceived that it was useless to him; the malice, insolence, and hatred, he revealed; the leer with which he exulted, even at this moment, in the evil he had done—all this time being desperate too, and at his wits' end for the means of getting the better of us—though perfectly consistent with the experience I had of him, at first took even me by surprise, who had known him so long, and disliked him so heartily.
(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)
