ABRUPT • DICTIONARY ONE.COM • Definition of Abrupt

Add this Dictionary
to your website!
See more options...

/əbrˈəpt/ Listen

adjective

Abrupt adj.

Broken off; very steep, or craggy, as rocks, precipices, banks; precipitous; steep; as, abrupt places. "Tumbling through ricks abrupt,"

Without notice to prepare the mind for the event; sudden; hasty; unceremonious. "The cause of your abrupt departure."

Having sudden transitions from one subject to another; unconnected. "The abrupt style, which hath many breaches."

(Bot.) Suddenly terminating, as if cut off.

Synonyms: Sudden; unexpected; hasty; rough; curt; unceremonious; rugged; blunt; disconnected; broken.

noun

Abrupt n. An abrupt place. (Poetic) ""Over the vast abrupt.""

verb

Abrupt v. t. To tear off or asunder. (Obs.) "Till death abrupts them."

See images of 'Abrupt'

Etymology of 'Abrupt'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

Share |

Add this dictionary
to your browser search bar

"Abrupt" Quotes from Famous Books

... yet experienced what can be effected by indomitable rage united with despair, and so having driven back the enemy beyond the abrupt precipices of the Balkan, they seized upon the rugged defiles in order to hem in the barbarians on ground from which they would be unable to find any exit, and where it seemed they might be overcome by famine. ...

— The Roman History of Ammianus Marcellinus • Ammianus Marcellinus

... had given him the shilling and the lecture on falsehood. He was writing so busily that our hero was obliged to stand for a moment or two unquestioned; but at last he looked up, and in seeming amazement at the presence of a stranger. "How long have you been here, and what do you want?" was the abrupt salutation. ...

— Watch--Work--Wait - Or, The Orphan's Victory • Sarah A. Myers

... smite the hardiest of us with dismay. No sooner does the panther find himse'f in the midst of that he'pless bevy of little ones, than he stops, turns round abrupt, an' sets down on his tail; an' then upliftin' his muzzle he busts into shrieks an' yells an' howls an' cries, a complete case of dog hysterics! That's what he is, a great yeller dog; his reason is now a wrack because we harasses him ...

— Wolfville Nights • Alfred Lewis

... to recommend him to the friendly reception of all, from Mr. Raymount to little Saffy, who had the rare charm of being shy without being rude. If not genial, his manners were yet friendly, and his carriage if not graceful was easy; both were apt to be abrupt where he was familiar. It was a kind of company bearing he had, but dashed with indifference, except where he desired to commend himself. He shook hands with little Saffy as respectfully as with her mother, ...

— Weighed and Wanting • George MacDonald

... been in Chicago a week when Lucy wrote home what she had done, and begged forgiveness for being so abrupt about it. At least, I suppose that is what she ...

— Danny's Own Story • Don Marquis

More quotes...