ABRUPTNESS

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does abruptness mean? 

• ABRUPTNESS (noun)
  The noun ABRUPTNESS has 3 senses:

1. an abrupt discourteous manner

2. the property possessed by a slope that is very steep

3. the quality of happening with headlong haste or without warning

  Familiarity information: ABRUPTNESS used as a noun is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• ABRUPTNESS (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

An abrupt discourteous manner

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Synonyms:

abruptness; brusqueness; curtness; gruffness; shortness

Hypernyms ("abruptness" is a kind of...):

discourtesy; rudeness (a manner that is rude and insulting)

Derivation:

abrupt (surprisingly and unceremoniously brusque in manner)

Sense 2

Meaning:

The property possessed by a slope that is very steep

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Synonyms:

abruptness; precipitousness; steepness

Hypernyms ("abruptness" is a kind of...):

gradient; slope (the property possessed by a line or surface that departs from the horizontal)

Antonym:

gradualness (the property possessed by a slope that is very gradual)

Derivation:

abrupt (extremely steep)

Sense 3

Meaning:

The quality of happening with headlong haste or without warning

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Synonyms:

abruptness; precipitance; precipitancy; precipitateness; precipitousness; suddenness

Hypernyms ("abruptness" is a kind of...):

haste; hastiness; hurriedness; hurry; precipitation (overly eager speed (and possible carelessness))

Derivation:

abrupt (exceedingly sudden and unexpected)

 Context examples 

I could not help smiling at the abruptness of the question.

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

“Where did you get that phrase?” I demanded, with an abruptness that in turn startled her.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

Mr. Chillip was so alarmed by her abruptness—as he told my mother afterwards—that it was a mercy he didn't lose his presence of mind.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

He almost started at my sudden and strange abruptness: he looked at me astonished.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

Without any reason that could justify, any apology that could atone for the abruptness, the rudeness, nay, the insolence of it.

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)

"Your sister," said he, with abruptness, a moment afterwards—"is out of danger.

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)

The hill, crowned with wood, which they had descended, receiving increased abruptness from the distance, was a beautiful object.

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)

I was so embarrassed by the abruptness of his manner that I could but stammer out that I hoped I should do my duty, on which his stern mouth relaxed into a good-humoured smile, and he laid his little brown hand for an instant upon my shoulder.

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

The minute it was made Jo saw her mistake, but fearing to make the matter worse, suddenly remembered that it was for her to make the first move toward departure, and did so with an abruptness that left three people with half-finished sentences in their mouths.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

The considerable slope, at nearly the foot of which the Abbey stood, gradually acquired a steeper form beyond its grounds; and at half a mile distant was a bank of considerable abruptness and grandeur, well clothed with wood;—and at the bottom of this bank, favourably placed and sheltered, rose the Abbey Mill Farm, with meadows in front, and the river making a close and handsome curve around it.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)