Archaic or poetic form meaning suddenly or all at once; without warning.
Middle English 'asuddeyn,' from 'a-' (prefix intensifier) plus 'sudden.' The 'a-' prefix was used in Middle English and Old English to create adverbial forms.
This word is pure medieval poetry—when Chaucer wanted to say something happened 'asudden,' it felt more dramatic and mysterious than our plain 'suddenly' does today.
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