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abrupt

 - 3 dictionary results

ab⋅rupt

  [uh-bruhpt]
Use abrupt in a Sentence
–adjective
1. sudden or unexpected: an abrupt departure.
2. curt or brusque in speech, manner, etc.: an abrupt reply.
3. terminating or changing suddenly: an abrupt turn in a road.
4. having many sudden changes from one subject to another; lacking in continuity or smoothness: an abrupt writing style.
5. steep; precipitous: an abrupt descent.
6. Botany. truncate (def. 4).
Origin:
1575–85; < L abruptus broken off (ptp. of abrumpere), equiv. to ab- ab- + -rup- break + -tus ptp. suffix

Related forms:
ab⋅rupt⋅ly, adverb
ab⋅rupt⋅ness, noun

Synonyms:
1, 3. quick, sharp. See sudden. 2. short, hurried, hasty, blunt. 4. discontinuous, broken, uneven.

Antonyms:
1, 3. gradual. 2. deliberate; patient, courteous.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To abrupt
a·brupt   (ə-brŭpt')   
adj.  

  1. Unexpectedly sudden: an abrupt change in the weather.

  2. Surprisingly curt; brusque: an abrupt answer made in anger.

  3. Touching on one subject after another with sudden transitions: abrupt prose.

  4. Steeply inclined. See Synonyms at steep1.

  5. Botany Terminating suddenly rather than gradually; truncate: an abrupt leaf.


[Latin abruptus, past participle of abrumpere, to break off : ab-, away; see ab-1 + rumpere, to break; see reup- in Indo-European roots.]
a·brupt'ly adv., a·brupt'ness n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

abrupt 
1583, from L. abruptus "broken off, precipitous, disconnected," pp. of abrumpere "break off," from ab- "off" + rumpere "break" (see rupture).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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