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Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1974 (SND Vol. IX). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

SUDDENT, adj. Also suddint (Sh. 1891 J. Burgess Rasmie's Büddie 36), suddaint (Sc. 1928 Scots Mag. (July) 273), sudantt (Mry. 1716 A. & H. Tayler 1715 (1936) 286), siddent (Mry. 1927 E. B. Levack Lossiemouth 10), sidden (Abd. 1931 J. H. Hall Holy Man 42). Sc. forms of Eng. sudden (Lnk. 1769 R. Frame Interest Lnk. 56; Ags. 1884 J. S. Cadell Fisher Folk 81, Sh. 1898 “Junda” Klingrahool 51; Dmb. 1899 E. Strang Lass of Lennox 195, Arg. 1917 A. W. Blue Quay Head Tryst 21, Abd. 1958 People's Jnl. (11 Jan.)). Compar. suddenter (Abd. 1912 G. Greig Mains's Wooin 56), superl. suddentest (m.Lth. 1857 Misty Morning 294). Also adv. Adv. suddently (Ags. 1826 A. Balfour Highland Mary I. 65), suddentlie, sudintly (Ags. 1894 J. B. Salmond Bawbee Bowden (1922) 94). Phr. wi' a sudden, suddenly, abruptly. [Gen.Sc. Sʌdɪnt]Ags. 1869 E. Johnston Poems 175:
Awa' to the well wi' a sudden.Sc. 1991 T. S. Law in Tom Hubbard The New Makars 35:
the man no kennin whit tae say,
the wumman feart whit was adae,
an stuid as suddentlie fair-baet
tae speir whit was 't she kent intaet,
thon muckle daith that's man's estate. m.Sc. 1994 John Burns in James Robertson A Tongue in Yer Heid 25:
Suddentlie reid sparks gaed sklinterin oot ower the flair as Iain warked the haunnle a bit ower quick. The pownie gied a lowp an Jock had tae jouk back an let go its fuit.