Definition of: sudden

(sud′n) adjective
1. Happening quickly and without warning: sudden death.
2. Hurriedly or quickly contrived, used, or done; hasty.
3. Come upon unexpectedly; causing surprise.
4. Quick–tempered; precipitate; rash. See synonyms under IMPETUOUS, SWIFT¹.
—noun The state of being sudden, or that which is sudden: obsolete except in a few phrases.
—all of a sudden, all on a sudden, on a sudden Without warning; on the spur of the moment. [<AF sodein, OF soudain <L subitaneus <subitus, pp. of subire come or go stealthily <sub- secretly + ire go]
—sud′den·ly adverb
—sud′den·ness noun