Archaic or poetic usage meaning 'suddenly', still encountered in some fixed expressions and older literature.
soudainEmploi littéraire ou poétique. Sudden he leapt to his feet and dashed outside.
Soudain, il se leva d'un bond et sortit en courant.
subitementPlus neutre que l'emploi poétique de la forme anglaise. Synonyms
all of a sudden
without warning
out of the blue
on the spur of the moment
Archaic usage meaning an unexpected occurrence.
un imprévuEmploi archaïque ou littéraire. In the tale, a sudden altered the hero's fate.
Dans le conte, un imprévu changea le destin du héros.