Chiefly Sc. Obs. exc. dial. Forms: see SUDDEN. [a. OF. sodeinete (mod.F. soudaineté), f. sodein SUDDEN: see -TY.]
1. = SUDDENNESS 1; occas. an instance of this, an unexpected attack.
1388. Wyclif, Wisd. v. 2. Thei schulen wondre in the sudeynte of heelthe vnhopid.
1536. Bellenden, Cron. Scot. (1821), I. 23. That he micht, be untraist suddante, the more cruelte exerce.
a. 1586. Montgomery, Misc. Poems, xlv. 9. Come, gentill Death, and that with suddentie.
1596. Dalrymple, trans. Leslie’s Hist. Scot., I. 166. Feiring the suddantie and craftines of the cuntrey men. Ibid., II. 135. The Bartains in respect of that suddentie, resist and defend al tha mycht.
1611. Speed, Hist. Gt. Brit., IX. xx. § 12. These short dangers and troubles, by reason of their suddainty did worthily make the King wakefull.
1633. Sir A. Johnston, Diary (S.H.S.), 15. The sudainte of it confounds me yet.
b. Phr. Of (a) suddenty, on or upon (a) suddenty, in or on a great, in sic a suddenty, etc.: all of a sudden, (so, very) suddenly.
c. 1440. Alphabet of Tales, 19. As he was drawand, þer happend of Sodentie a fyssh to com in-to þe bukett.
c. 1557. Abp. Parker, Ps. xc. 254. As early grasse in sodentye doth change hys hue and plight.
1582–8. Hist. Jas. VI. (1804), 77. The regent thus endit his … dayes in sic suddainty … as ye haue heard.
1587. Reg. Privy Council Scot., Ser. I. IV. 167. The said Maister, upoun suddentie, devisit the secund [device].
1596. Dalrymple, trans. Leslie’s Hist. Scot., I. 165. Thairfor vpon Angus he brekis in vpon a suddentie.
1633. Sir A. Johnston, Diary (S.H.S.), 13. That it pleased God upon a sudainty … to separat thos saules quhilk he had joined out of his love.
1650. R. Baillie, Lett. & Jrnls. (Bannatyne Club), III. 120. He left the west in a great suddentie and demi-disorder.
1818. Scott, Hrt. Midl., xviii. It is not likely that he should have joined them on a suddenty. Ibid. (1824), Redgauntlet, let. xi. My father’s tongue was loosed of a suddenty.
1876. Robinson, Gloss. Whitby, 189/1. It cam doon amang us all on a suddenty.
2. (In Sc. legal language.) An unpremeditated outburst of passion. On, upon, rarely of, in (a) suddenty: without premeditation.
1469. Acts Parl. Scot. Jas. III. (1814), II. 95/2. Gret slachteris quhilkes has bene Richt commone … of late baith of fore thocht felony and of suddante.
1496. Reg. Privy Seal Scot., I. 10/1. The slauchter of John Thomsoun committit apon suddante alanerly.
c. 1575. Balfour’s Practicks (1754), 519. Gif … it … out of ane chaud-melle, or suddentie, that ilk ane of thame slay uther.
15[?]. Aberd. Reg. (Jam.). Spokin in suddanty, in the first motioune of yre.
1609. Skene, Reg. Maj., 46 b (tr. Stat. Day. II.). Crymes (committed be ane suddentie, or ane chaud-mellee).
1637–50. Row, Hist. Kirk (Wodrow Soc.), 36. He who slayes any upon suddentie and inadvertence.
1678. G. Mackenzie, Crim. Laws Scot., I. xi. § xi. (1699), 64. Chaudmella, or Slaughter committed upon suddenty.
1776. Sir D. Dalrymple, Annals Scot., I. 4. If he … committed slaughter of suddenty.
1785. Arnot, Crim. Trials (1812), 195. That there is no distinction between … deliberate assassination and killing of a suddenty.
