adv. (a.) 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. Eng. 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. Gy 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. James 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 soon 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. Shaks., 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. Shaks., 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. Shaks., 1 Hen. IV., I. iii. 294. When time is ripe, which will be sodainly.
1661. Pr. 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. Etheredge, 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 10th, 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.]
