definition of the word abrupt

Latin abruptus, past participle of abrumpere "to break off", formed from ab- + rumpere "to break".

abrupt (comparative more abrupt or abrupter, superlative most abrupt or abruptest)

1. Broken off; very steep or craggy, as rocks, precipices, banks; precipitous; as, abrupt places.

   Tumbling through ricks abrupt. - Thomson

2. Without notice to prepare the mind for the event; sudden; hasty; unceremonious.

   The cause of your abrupt departure. - Shakespeare, Henry VI Part I, II-iii

3. Curt in manner; rude; uncivil; impolite.
4. Having sudden transitions from one subject or state to another; unconnected.
   • The party came to an abrupt end when the parents of our host arrived.
   • The abrupt style, which hath many breaches. - B. Jonson
5. (botany) Suddenly terminating, as if cut off; truncate; truncata.

• blunt
• broken
• brusque
• curt
• disconnected
• hasty
• rough
• rugged
• sudden
• unceremonious
• unexpected

Definition from Wiktionary Content avaible with GNU Free Documentation License

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