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abrupt

Pronunciation: /əˈbɹʌpt/

The English word “abrupt” has 10 meanings listed here.

adjective

  1. Broken away (from restraint).
  2. Without notice to prepare the mind for the event; sudden; hasty; unceremonious.
  3. Curt in manner.
  4. Having sudden transitions from one subject or state to another; unconnected; disjointed.
  5. Broken off.
  6. Extremely steep or craggy as if broken up; precipitous.
  7. Suddenly terminating, as if cut off; truncate.

verb

  1. To tear off or asunder.
  2. To interrupt suddenly.

noun

  1. Something which is abrupt; an abyss.

Etymology

First attested in 1583. Borrowed from Latin abruptus (“broken off”), perfect passive participle of abrumpō (“break off”), formed from ab (“from, away from”) + rumpō (“to break”).

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