speed

speed
{{11}}speed (n.) O.E. sped "success, prosperity, advancement," from P.Gmc. *spodiz (Cf. O.S. spod "success," Du. spoed "haste, speed," O.H.G. spuot "success," O.S. spodian "to cause to succeed," M.Du. spoeden, O.H.G. spuoten "to haste"), from PIE *spo-ti- "speed," from *spe- "to thrive, prosper" (Cf. Skt. sphayate "increases," L. sperare "to hope," O.C.S. spechu "endeavor," Lith. speju "to have leisure").
Meaning "quickness of motion or progress" emerged in late Old English (usually adverbially, in dative plural, e.g. spedum feran), emerging fully in early Middle English. Meaning "gear of a machine" is attested from 1866. Meaning "methamphetamine, or a related drug," first attested 1967, from its effect on users. Speed bump is 1975; figurative sense is 1990s. Full speed is recorded from late 14c. Speed reading first attested 1965. Speedball "mix of cocaine and morphine or heroin" is recorded from 1909.
{{12}}speed (v.) O.E. spedan "to succeed, prosper, advance" (see SPEED (Cf. speed) (n.)). Meaning "to go fast" is attested from c.1300. Meaning "to send forth with quickness" is first recorded 1560s; that of "to increase the work rate of" (usually with up) is from 1856. Related: Speeded; speeding.

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

Игры ⚽ Нужна курсовая?
Synonyms:

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Speed — bezeichnet: die Droge Amphetamin Speed (Kartenspiel), ein Kartenspiel Speed, einen Schokoriegel der Aldi Süd Kette; siehe Twix#Nachahmungen Speedklettern in Kurzform Speed – The Ride, eine Achterbahn im Nascar Café Speed: No Limits, eine… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • speed — n 1 *haste, hurry, expedition, dispatch Analogous words: *celerity, legerity, alacrity: fleetness, rapidity, swiftness, quickness (see corresponding adjectives at FAST): velocity, pace, headway (see SPEED) 2 Speed, velocity, momentum, impetus,… …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • Speed — Speed, n. [AS. sp?d success, swiftness, from sp?wan to succeed; akin to D. spoedd, OHG. spuot success, spuot to succees, Skr. sph[=a] to increase, grow fat. [root]170b.] 1. Prosperity in an undertaking; favorable issue; success. For common speed …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • speed — [spēd] n. [ME sped < OE spæd, wealth, power, success, akin to spowan, to prosper, succeed < IE base * spēi , to flourish, expand > SPACE, SPARE] 1. the act or state of moving rapidly; swiftness; quick motion 2. a) the rate of movement or …   English World dictionary

  • Speed — Speed, v. t. 1. To cause to be successful, or to prosper; hence, to aid; to favor. Fortune speed us! Shak. [1913 Webster] With rising gales that speed their happy flight. Dryden. [1913 Webster] 2. To cause to make haste; to dispatch with… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • speed — [ spid ] n. m. et adj. • 1968; mot angl., proprt « vitesse » ♦ Anglic. fam. 1 ♦ Amphétamine, L. S. D. Prendre du speed. 2 ♦ Adj. Qui a pris des amphétamines. ♢ Très agité, excité. Elle est speed, la directrice ! speed [spid] n. m. et adj. ÉTYM.… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • Speed — 〈[ spi:d]〉 I 〈m. 6; Sp.〉 1. Geschwindigkeit 2. Geschwindigkeitssteigerung II 〈n. 15; Drogenszene〉 Aufputschmittel, z. B. Amphetamin [engl.] * * * …   Universal-Lexikon

  • speed — ► NOUN 1) the rate at which someone or something moves or operates. 2) rapidity of movement or action. 3) each of the possible gear ratios of a bicycle. 4) the light gathering power or f number of a camera lens. 5) the duration of a photographic… …   English terms dictionary

  • Speed — Speed, NC U.S. town in North Carolina Population (2000): 70 Housing Units (2000): 60 Land area (2000): 0.283009 sq. miles (0.732990 sq. km) Water area (2000): 0.000000 sq. miles (0.000000 sq. km) Total area (2000): 0.283009 sq. miles (0.732990 sq …   StarDict's U.S. Gazetteer Places

  • Speed — (sp[=e]d), v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Sped} (sp[e^]d), {Speeded}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Speeding}.] [AS. sp[=e]dan, fr. sp[=e]d, n.; akin to D. spoeden, G. sich sputen. See {Speed}, n.] 1. To go; to fare. [Obs.] [1913 Webster] To warn him now he is too… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • speed|up — speed up or speed|up «SPEED UHP», noun. an increase in speed, as in some process or work: »Among the urgent areas for study, the report included…speed up of boarding and deplaning procedures (Science News Letter) …   Useful english dictionary

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”