Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • In a speedy manner; quickly; with haste; in a short time.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • adverb In a speedy manner.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • adverb In a speedy or fast manner.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • adverb with rapid movements

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From Middle English spedily, spedili, from Old English *spēdiġlīċe, ġespēdiġlīċe ("prosperously"), equivalent to speedy +‎ -ly. Cognate with Scots spedely, spedelie ("quickly, speedily"). Compare also Old English spēdlīċe ("effectually, effectively, successfully, efficaciously, powerfully, in a manner which produces a result").

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Examples

  • He collected a class of boys, aged about four, and proposed to teach them Latin speedily and easily by making them converse in the classical language as well as read and write it. 199

    The Book of The Thousand Nights And A Night 2006

  • The word speedily went round the village, with many a nod and wink:

    Boys' Book of Famous Soldiers 1917

  • He made himself heard the best he could and the word speedily traveled fore and aft, on all the decks, that the canoe would take ashore twenty people, at once.

    Gold Seekers of '49 Charles H. [Illustrator] Stephens 1911

  • With the air of a man who has conferred a great benefit, and is calmly awaiting his rightful reward, Jake turned to Tom; but his expression speedily changed to one of hopeless wonder, and then to one of delight, as Tom Chafflin walked rapidly up to the cashier's desk, pushed the

    Romance of California Life John Habberton 1881

  • The Lord is at hand -- The Lord's coming again speedily is the grand motive to every Christian grace (Jas 5: 8, 9).

    Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible 1871

  • This parable is another way applicable, and may be taken as designed to teach us to begin speedily to be religious, rather than to begin cautiously; and may mean the same with Matt.v. 25, Agree with thine adversary quickly.

    Commentary on the Whole Bible Volume V (Matthew to John) 1721

  • There was little parleying between them, the detective merely assuring him that if he did not come to terms speedily, his trunk would be broken open and all of its contents seized.

    The Narrative of a Blockade-Runner John Wilkinson

  • We did not, however, forget that death might destroy all our plans, and often conversed together freely on the probability that one of us might be called speedily into eternity.

    Daughters of the Cross: or Woman's Mission Daniel C. Eddy

  • He wondered at himself for not thinking of it before, and the idea speedily coupled itself with Isabel's strange disappearance.

    Tiverton Tales Alice Brown 1902

  • He wondered at himself for not thinking of it before, and the idea speedily coupled itself with Isabel's strange disappearance.

    Tiverton Tales Alice Brown 1902

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