Word of the Day

: May 11, 2014

abrupt

adjective uh-BRUPT

What It Means

1 a : characterized by or involving action or change without preparation or warning : unexpected

b : unceremoniously curt

c : lacking smoothness or continuity

2 : giving the impression of being cut or broken off; especially : involving a sudden steep rise or drop

abrupt in Context

Although Kevin liked working at the auto dealership, his abrupt manner of speaking made him a poor match for a job in customer service.

"Investigators are combing a remote area of the Indian Ocean for possible debris from missing Malaysia Airlines Flight 370, but the mystery around its abrupt disappearance grows with each passing day." - From an article by Ginger Adams Otis in the Daily News (New York), March 23, 2014

Did You Know?

We'll break it to you gently: "abrupt" first appeared in English in the 16th century and can be traced back to a combination in Latin of the prefix "ab-" and the verb "rumpere," which means "to break." "Rumpere" forms the basis for several other words in English that suggest a kind of breaking, including "interrupt," "rupture," and "bankrupt." Whether being used to describe a style of speaking that seems rudely short (as in "an abrupt answer"), something with a severe rise or drop (as in "abrupt changes in temperature"), or something that seems rash and sudden (as in "an abrupt decision to quit college"), "abrupt" implies a kind of jarring unexpectedness that catches people off guard.