Subitaneousness
/ˌsuːbɪˈteɪniənəs/noun
The quality or condition of occurring suddenly or unexpectedly.
Did you know?Subitaneous comes through Latin subitus, “sudden,” from subire, literally “to come up” or “approach,” giving surprise an unexpectedly physical, almost magical image.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*ey-
“To go or move”
Ancient Latin
Latin
subīre
“To go under, approach, or come up”
Classical Latin
Latin
subitus
“Sudden; unexpected, literally something that has come up”
Late Latin
Latin
subitāneus
“Sudden or happening immediately”
17th Century
English
subitaneous
“Sudden; occurring unexpectedly”
Modern English
English
subitaneousness
“The quality of being sudden or unexpected”