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 bad 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. W. Spalding, Italy & It. Isl., III. 286. The suddenness of the chill which accompanies the evening twilight is equally perceptible by the senses and from the evidence of the thermometer.
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.
