Definition of sudden

The word "sudden" has its roots in Old English and Germanic languages. The earliest recorded uses of the word date back to around the 8th century. In Old English, the word "sundor" or "sundling" meant "unusual" or "unexpected." This word is thought to be derived from the Proto-Germanic word "*sunuzdiz," which carried a sense of "breaking off" or "interrupting." Over time, the spelling of the word evolved to "sudden," and its meaning shifted to describe an event or action that occurs rapidly or unexpectedly. In Middle English (circa 11th-15th centuries), the word "sudden" was used to describe something that happened suddenly, without warning or notice. Today, the word "sudden" is used in many contexts to convey a sense of rapid or unexpected change.