abrupt

Where does the word "abrupt" come from? It comes from Latin abruptus, and was adopted directly into English (1570s).

Abrupt’s story begins in Latin: abruptus meant “broken off.” Broken off, from ab- (off) and rumpere (to break). It reached English by 1570s as abrupt. First recorded in 1565 in the Catholic controversialist John Rastell, taken straight from Latin 'abruptus'. Today, abrupt means sudden and unexpected, or brusque in manner.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient abruptus "broken off", broken off, from ab- (off) and rumpere (to break).
2. Stage 2 · English · 1570s abrupt "sudden and unexpected", first recorded in 1565 in the Catholic controversialist John Rastell, taken straight from Latin 'abruptus'.