From Middle English sped (“prosperity, good luck, quickness, success”), from Old English spēd (“success”), from Proto-West Germanic *spōdi (“prosperity, success”), from Proto-West Germanic *spōan, from Proto-Germanic *spōaną (“to prosper, succeed, be happy”), from Proto-Indo-European *speh₁- (“to prosper, turn out well”). Cognate with Scots spede, speid (“success, quickness, speed”), Dutch spoed (“haste; speed”), German Low German Spood (“haste; speed; eagerness; success”), German Sput (“progress, acceleration, haste”). Related also to Old English spōwan (“to be successful, succeed”), Albanian shpejt (“to speed, to hurry”) and Russian спеши́ть (spešítʹ, “to hurry”), Latin spēs (“hope, expectation”), spērō (“hope”, verb), perhaps also to Ancient Greek σπεύδω (speúdō, “to urge on, hasten, press on”).
The state of moving quickly or the capacity for rapid motion.
How does Usain Bolt run at that speed?
Returne with ſpeed, time paſſeth ſwift away, Our life is fraile, and we may dye to day.c. 1587–1588 (date written), [Christopher Marlowe], Tamburlaine the Great. […] The First Part […], 2nd edition, part 1, London: […] [R. Robinson for] Richard Iones, […], published 1592, →OCLC; reprinted as Tamburlaine the Great (A Scolar Press Facsimile), Menston, Yorkshire; London: Scolar Press, 1973, →ISBN, Act I, scene i:
2
Mathematics, Natural sciences, Physical sciences, Physics, Sciences The rate of motion or action, specifically the magnitude of the velocity; the rate distance is traversed in a given time.
Speed limits provide information to the drivers about the safe speed to travel in average conditions.
Train positions and speeds were established by a track magnet at each milepost, which produced a suitable mark on the punched recording tape whenever a train passed.1960 December 23, “Talking of Trains: Recording Electric Operation”, in Trains Illustrated, London: Ian Allan Publishing, →ISSN, →OCLC, page 707:
3
Arts, Hobbies, Lifestyle, Photography The sensitivity to light of film, plates or sensor.
4
Arts, Hobbies, Lifestyle, Photography The duration of exposure, the time during which a camera shutter is open (shutter speed).
5
Arts, Hobbies, Lifestyle, Photography The largest size of the lens opening at which a lens can be used.
6
Arts, Hobbies, Lifestyle, Photography The ratio of the focal length to the diameter of a photographic objective.
7
Slang Amphetamine or any amphetamine-based drug (especially methamphetamine) used as a stimulant, especially illegally.
I don’t even like speed. It’s alright if ya wanna stay awake for three days an’ clean yer room, but I’m terrible on no sleep. It just makes me anxious.2021, Paris Lees, What it Feels Like for a Girl, Penguin (2022), page 115:
St. Francis be my ſpeed, how oft to night / Haue my old feet ſtumbled at graues?c. 1591–1595 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Romeo and Ivliet”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene iii], page 76:
O Lord God of my master Abraham, I pray thee, send me good speed this day.1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Genesis 24:12:
We could go to the shore next week, or somewhere else if that's not your speed.
I used to dream of throwing on the heritage Burberry coat and teaming it with Hunter wellies (which is admittedly a very cute look), but a few years ago I realized an oversize option is actually my speed.2024 April 8, Nikki Ogunnaike, “3 Outfit Formulas That Will Carry You Through Any Season”, in Marie Claire:
10
Business, Finance A third-order measure of derivative price sensitivity, expressed as the rate of change of gamma with respect to changes in the underlying asset price.
average speed, instantaneous speed, ground speed, airspeed
speed
intj
Etymology
From Middle English sped (“prosperity, good luck, quickness, success”), from Old English spēd (“success”), from Proto-West Germanic *spōdi (“prosperity, success”), from Proto-West Germanic *spōan, from Proto-Germanic *spōaną (“to prosper, succeed, be happy”), from Proto-Indo-European *speh₁- (“to prosper, turn out well”). Cognate with Scots spede, speid (“success, quickness, speed”), Dutch spoed (“haste; speed”), German Low German Spood (“haste; speed; eagerness; success”), German Sput (“progress, acceleration, haste”). Related also to Old English spōwan (“to be successful, succeed”), Albanian shpejt (“to speed, to hurry”) and Russian спеши́ть (spešítʹ, “to hurry”), Latin spēs (“hope, expectation”), spērō (“hope”, verb), perhaps also to Ancient Greek σπεύδω (speúdō, “to urge on, hasten, press on”).
1
Broadcasting, Film, Media, Television Called by the soundman when the recording equipment has reached running speed and is ready to go.
“Speed,” Carlos, the soundman, said. […] “Camera.” “Rolling,” replied Bryce, the cameraman.2000, Brian J. Hayes, A Boy Scout in Hollywood, page 30:
[…] the director called, “Roll 'em,” the sound man said, “Speed,” and Norling stepped in and said, […]2012, Tom Mascaro, Into the Fray, page 52:
speed
verb
Etymology From Middle English speden, from Old English spēdan (“to speed, prosper, succeed, have success”), from Proto-West Germanic *spōdijan (“to succeed”). Cognate with Scots spede, speid (“to meet with success, assist, promote, accomplish, speed”), Dutch spoeden (“to hurry, rush”), Low German spoden, spöden (“to hasten, speed”), German sputen, spuden (“to speed”).
And yf I maye fynde suche a knyghte that hath all these vertues / he may drawe oute this swerd oute of the shethe / for I haue ben at kyng Ryons / it was told me ther were passyng good knyghtes / and he and alle his knyghtes haue assayed it and none can spede1485, Sir Thomas Malory, chapter 1, in Le Morte Darthur, book I:
We have been praying for our husbands' healths, Which speed, we hope, the better for our words. Are they returned?c. 1596–1598 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Merchant of Venice”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene i]:
2 more examples
Aristotle must find out the motion of Euripus; Pliny must needs see Vesuvius; but how sped they? One loseth goods, another his life.1624, Democritus Junior [pseudonym; Robert Burton], The Anatomy of Melancholy: […], 2nd edition, Oxford, Oxfordshire: […] John Lichfield and James Short, for Henry Cripps, →OCLC, partition I, section 2, member 4, subsection vii:
18ᵗʰc., Oliver Goldsmith, Introductory to Switzerland At night returning, every labor sped, / He sits him down the monarch of a shed: / Smiles by his cheerful fire, and round surveys, / His children’s looks, that brighten at the blaze;
2
Archaic To help someone, to give them fortune; to aid or favour.
God speed, until we meet again.
Fortune speed us! So we set forth to seac. 1610–1611 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Winters Tale”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene iv]:
1 more example
with rising gales that sped their happy flight1697, Virgil, “(please specify the book number)”, in John Dryden, transl., The Works of Virgil: Containing His Pastorals, Georgics, and Æneis. […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC:
3
To go fast.
The Ferrari was speeding along the road.
I have speeded hither with the very extremest inch of possibility.c. 1596–1599 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Second Part of Henry the Fourth, […]. Epilogue.”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene ii]:
1 more example
With a little manœuvring they contrived to meet on the doorstep which was […] in a boiling stream of passers-by, hurrying business people speeding past in a flurry of fumes and dust in the bright haze.1963, Margery Allingham, chapter 10, in The China Governess: A Mystery, London: Chatto & Windus, →OCLC:
4
To exceed the speed limit.
Why do you speed when the road is so icy?
It had these very funny, crazy plays in it, and then it had this one story about a traffic cop that falls in love with this very cute girl that’s always speeding.1951 July 16, J[erome] D[avid] Salinger, The Catcher in the Rye, Boston, Mass.: Little, Brown and Company, →OCLC, page 25:
5
To increase the rate at which something occurs.
It is possible that the uterine contractions speed the sperm along.1982, Carole Offir, Carole Wade, Human sexuality,, Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, page 454:
Such interventions can help to speed the process of reducing CBRs and help countries pass through the demographic transition threshold more quickly[…].2004, James M. Cypher, James L. Dietz, The process of economic development, Routledge, page 359:
6
Slang To be under the influence of stimulant drugs, especially amphetamines.
Jackie is just speeding away / Thought she was James Dean for a day1972, Lou Reed, “Walk on the Wild Side”, in Transformer:
If Hector had not been speeding, it was possible that his next thought would have hurt: he loves his uncle unconditionally, in a way he will never love me.2008, Christos Tsiolkas, The Slap, Allen and Unwin, page 46:
Archaic To hurry to destruction; to put an end to; to ruin.
infected with the fashions, full of wingdalls, sped with spavins, rayed with yellowsc. 1590–1592 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Taming of the Shrew”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene ii]:
A dire dilemma! either vvay I'm ſped, / If Foes, they vvrite, if Friends, they read me dead.1735 January 13 (Gregorian calendar; indicated as 1734), [Alexander] Pope, An Epistle from Mr. Pope, to Dr. Arbuthnot, London: […] J[ohn] Wright for Lawton Gilliver […], →OCLC, page 2, lines 31–32:
9
Archaic To wish success or good fortune to, in any undertaking, especially in setting out upon a journey.
Welcome the coming, speed the parting guest.1726, Homer, “Book XV”, in [Alexander Pope], transl., The Odyssey of Homer. […], volume IV, London: […] Bernard Lintot, →OCLC:
10
To cause to make haste; to dispatch with celerity; to drive at full speed; hence, to hasten; to hurry.
He sped him thence, home to his habitation.1600, [Torquato Tasso], “(please specify |book=1 to 20)”, in Edward Fairefax [i.e., Edward Fairfax], transl., Godfrey of Bulloigne, or The Recouerie of Ierusalem. […], London: […] Ar[nold] Hatfield, for I[saac] Iaggard and M[atthew] Lownes, →OCLC:
11
To hasten to a conclusion; to expedite.
Judicial acts[…]are sped in open court at the instance of one or both of the parties.1726, John Ayliffe, Parergon Juris Canonici Anglicani: Or, A Commentary, by Way of Supplement to the Canons and Constitutions of the Church of England. […], London: […] D. Leach, and sold by John Walthoe […], →OCLC: