| 释义 |
▪ I. speed, n.|spiːd|
Forms: 1 spoed (spod), 1–6 sped, 3–6 spede, 5–7 speede, 6– speed; 4 spied, 4–8 speid; 5 spyd(e, 6–7 spide.
[OE. spéd, earlier spœ́d, = MDu. spoed, spoet (Du. spoed), OS. spôd, spôt (MLG. spôd-, spôt, spoet, spoit), OHG. spôt, spuot (MHG. sput), f. OE. spówan, OHG. spuon to prosper, succeed.]
I.
†1. Abundance. Obs.
Also freq. in OE. ‘substance, means, wealth’.
a900Cynewulf Crist 604 He us æt ᵹiefeð, & æhta sped, welan ofer widlond. a1000Genesis 1084 Tubal Cain, se þurh snytro sped smið cræfteᵹa wæs. c1200Ormin 12079 Off þatt hemm weorelldahhtess spedd Aȝȝ waxeþþ mare & mare. Ibid. 12252 Off laferrddom, off ahhtess sped. c1250Gen. & Ex. 122 Of euerilc ouȝt, of euerilc sed, Was erðe mad moder of sped.
†2. Power, might. Obs.
971Blickl. Hom. 179 Þonne syndon on þyssum Simone twa speda, mannes & deofles. c1000Ags. Ps. (Thorpe) lxxxviii. 7 Þu eart mæᵹena God,..nis þe ealra ᵹelic ahwær on spedum. c1250Gen. & Ex. 25 God..unspered al ðe fendes sped, And halp ðor he saȝ mikel ned. Ibid. 2995 Her hem wantede miȝt and sped.
3. a. Success, prosperity, good fortune; profit, advancement, furtherance. Obs. exc. Sc. or arch.
c725Corpus Gloss. (Hessels) P 707 Præuentus, spoed. Ibid. S 646 Successus, spoed. a900Cynewulf Elene 1182 He ah æt wiᵹᵹe sped, siᵹor æt sæcce. c1000Ags. Ps. (Thorpe) lv. 4 Ic..on God..ᵹelyfe, þæt minre spræce sped folᵹie. c1250Gen. & Ex. 2221 [They] hauen it so to iacob broȝt, And tolden him so of here sped. Ibid. 3929 Al..is fultum and his sped. a1300Cursor M. 22886 (Edinb.), Þe mar man swink him þar aboutin Fra sped þe ferre he sal ben outin. 1390Gower Conf. II. 11 For Slowthe is mihti to confounde The spied of every mannes werk. c1407Lydg. Reson & Sens. 4906 Now shal ye here..Al the processe of my spede. 1412–20― Chron. Troy iv. 4662 Myn entent is nat to repreue Ȝoure wyse conseil..Ȝif it conclude to þe comoun spede Of my peple and sauacioun. 1503–4Act 19 Hen. VII, c. 19 Preamb., For their owne spede and lucre they suffer their ledder to pass untruly coryed. c1510More Picus Wks. 32 What seruice maie so desirable bee, As where all turneth to thyne owne spede. 1611Chapman Widdowes T. Wks. 1873 III. 8, I am assured of my speede. 1786Burns Ep. Young Friend xi, In ploughman phrase ‘God send you speed’. 1791J. Learmont Poems 51 We wiss him speed Till he unravel ilka quirk. 1899G. Greig Logie o' Buchan xii. 203 Guid-bye than, Jamie; and I wish ye a' speed and forder.
b. With adjs., as good, evil, etc.: Success, fortune, lot.
c1250Gen. & Ex. 309 Ȝet ic wene I can a red, ðat hem sal bringen iwel sped. 14..Sir Beues (1894) 182/2 God send them evyll spede. 1451Rolls of Parlt. V. 219/2 The good spede of this Act of Resumption. 1535Goodly Prymer S j b, That temyng women may haue ioyfull spede in their labour. 1577–87Holinshed Chron. III. 1097/1 In the assistance..all their hope of prosperous speed consisted. 1634Canne Necess. Separ. (1849) 221 It is..worth the noting, what ill speed Mr. Dayrell hath still in all his testimonies. 1651Weldon Crt. Chas. 194 Another Parliament was summoned, wherein..there proved no better a good speed and successe than a mere frustration of all hopes on both hands. 1724De Foe Mem. Cavalier (1840) 113 The king wished us good speed. 1809Malkin Gil Blas v. i. ⁋21 You give way to difficulties with more haste than good speed.
Comb.a1616Beaum. & Fl. Little Fr. Lawyer v. iii, They are men of a charitable vocation,..And put a good speed penny in my purse.
c. to come (good) speed, to be successful. So to come bad, or no, speed, to be more or less unsuccessful. Sc.
a1557Diurn. Occurr. (Bann. Cl.) 19 He come no speid but depairtit with repulse. c1620Z. Boyd Zion's Flowers (1855) 57, I at the market have this day come speede. 1638A. Cant Serm. at Edinburgh (1699) 21 If I had hope to come speed with you. 1756M. Calderwood in Coltness Collect. (Maitland Club) 232 There was one came about gathering charity,..but she came very ill speed. 1824S. E. Ferrier Inher. xxxii, No wonder he came such bad speed at the courting. Ibid., Somebody has come good speed. 1881W. Gregor Folk-Lore xxii. 161 Sittin beggars cumna speed.
†4.
a. Assistance, aid, help. Obs.
c1340Hampole Pr. Consc. 2882 And þat may be thurgh helpe and spede Of prayer of frendes and almusdede. 13..E.E. Allit. P. B. 1607 Þurȝ þe sped of þe spyryt þat sprad hym with-inne. 1399Rolls of Parlt. III. 451 [To] procede as hym thoght for the best.., for the spede of this nede and of all the Parlement. 1423Ibid. IV. 256 In spede as wele of the Kynges nede, as of his peple. a1500Chester Pl. x. 79 Haue here of me, to do thee speede, right a gay garment.
†b. One who, or that which, promotes success or prosperity. Obs.
c1375Cursor M. 21348 (Fairf.), Of þe rode now for to rede, ihesus criste he be mi spede. 1377Pol. Poems (Rolls) I. 215 He that was ur most spede Is selden seye and sone forȝete. c1450Godstow Reg. 4 [Cross] of ihesu criste be euer oure spede. 1577Grange Golden Aphrod., etc. S iv, Adewe therefore, God be thy speede. 1591Troub. Raigne K. John (1611) 54 S. Francis be your speed. 1596Shakes. 1 Hen. IV, iii. i. 190 Good-manners be your speede. 1681W. Robertson Phraseol. Gen. (1693) 1158 Christ be our speed.
II.
5. a. Quickness in moving or making progress from one place to another, usually as the result of special exertion; celerity, swiftness; also, power or rate of progress.
In OE. only in the dat. plur. used adverbially. In ME. freq. in advb. phrases, as a good speed, or with preps. (cf. 8 and 9).
a1000Genesis 2397 Ᵹewiton him þa ædre ellorfuse æfter þære spræce spedum feran. c1250Gen. & Ex. 1598 Fro bersabe he ferde wið sped. a1300Cursor M. 16597 Him þai can to nede, At tak þe tan end o þe tre, to ga þe better spede. c1350Will. Palerne 1765 William & þe mayde..gon forþ þurȝth þe gardin a wel god spede. a1400Sir Perc. 720 For to rynne scho myȝte not thole Ne folowe hym no spede. c1450St. Cuthbert (Surtees) 1727 For mare spede be ship he went. c1450Holland Howlat 292 He wald nocht spair for to spring on a gud speid. 15..Christ's Kirk 143 in Bann. Ms. 287 He suld bene swift that gat him, throw speid. 1596Shakes. Merch. V. iii. iv. 56 Madam, I goe with all conuenient speed. 1667Milton P.L. ii. 700 Back to thy punishment,..and to thy speed add wings. 1697Dryden Virg. Georg. iii. 305 Thus, form'd for speed, he challenges the Wind. 1758Johnson Idler No. 6 ⁋10 The true causes of her speed were fear and love. 1797S. & Ht. Lee Canterb. T. (1799) I. 355 He exerted all the speed fatigue would allow. 1823Scott Quentin D. xvii, The Scottish mountaineer was at liberty to put forth a speed which was unrivalled in his own glens. 1847Marryat Childr. N. Forest xxii, That's a fine horse you were riding, sir. Has he much speed? 1891Farrar Darkn. & Dawn xii, Pudens had seen him..run up the steps with a speed which a Roman regarded as very undignified.
b. Of things: Swiftness, rapidity, velocity, of direct or circular movement; rate of motion or revolution.
c1200Ormin 18094 All swa se waterrstræm Aȝȝ fleteþþ forþ & erneþþ Towarrd te sæ wiþþ mikell sped. 1560J. Daus tr. Sleidane's Comm. 83 It began at the Ocean sea, &..spred over all Germany, & with unspeakeable spede. 1590Shakes. Com. Err. i. i. 110 Her part..Was carried with more speed before the winde. 1619in Eng. & Germ. (Camden) 156, I know not whether I should have beene diverted a second time from taking the speede of the river if [etc.]. 1742Gray Eton 29 What idle progeny succeed To chase the rolling circle's speed? 1823Scott Quentin D. xxvii, What has taken some time to narrate, happened, in fact, with the speed of light. 1857Dufferin Lett. High Lat. (ed. 3) 410 Then, notwithstanding the slowness of the speed, it requires as much luck as skill to avoid collisions. 1883M. P. Bale Saw-Mills 209 If a sawing or planing machine is driven at a very great rate of speed.
c. With numerals or adjs. forming attrib. combs. Freq. in sense d below; also ellipt., a bicycle having the number of gears indicated.
1871Routledge's Ev. Boy's Ann. Apr. Suppl. 3/2 Three-speed Pulley. 1885Field 31 Jan. 121/3 A ‘ten-speed gear’ tricycle. 1904Westm. Gaz. 5 July 12/1 Very high-speed passenger trains. 1955Radio Times 22 Apr. 30/1 (Advt.), 6-valve, 3-speed, autochange table radiogram. 1970‘D. Halliday’ Dolly & Cookie Bird iii. 26 A runaway self-propelled two-speed-gear lawnmower. 1975Sat. Rev. (U.S.) 3 May 44/1 Then they'll hop onto their sleek 3-, 5-, or 10-speeds and..explore America's city streets.
d. Any of the possible gear ratios of a machine, esp. a bicycle or motor vehicle; the equipment associated with this; = gear n. 7 b.
1866English Mechanic 22 June 263/1, I think in velocipede construction it is necessary to have two speeds... By pulling the lever A it throws the small wheels out of gear, and the driver can use the large wheels for level ground and the small ones for ascending hills. 1904Kipling Traffics & Discov. 304, I was on the point of reversing and working my way back on the second speed ere I ended in some swamp, when I saw sunshine through the tangle ahead and lifted the brake. 1907G. B. Shaw John Bull's Other Island iv. 80 The pig..put in the fourth speed with its right crubeen. 1926T. E. Lawrence Seven Pillars (1935) ix. cii. 560 The armoured car was too heavy for the flints, and always she sank in a little, making heavy going on third speed. 1951N. Mitford Blessing ii. ii. 170 I'll get you a bike with three speeds. 1974Encycl. Brit. Macropædia II. 522/2 The simplest automobile transmission is the sliding-spur-gear type with three or four forward speeds and a reverse. 1980P. Lively Judgement Day x. 129 A shiny new bike with three speeds.
6. a. Quickness, promptness, or dispatch in the performance of some action or operation. Freq. in the phrase with (all) speed.
For the proverbial contrast with haste, see haste n. 6.
a1000Genesis 2667 Spedum sæᵹde eorlum Abimeleh..waldendes word. c1250Gen. & Ex. 1083 Ðo seiden ðis angeles to loth wið sped. c1425Abraham's Sacrifice 376 in Non-Cycle Myst. Plays (1909) 51 Thys fyere schall brene a full good spyd. 1526Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W. 1531) 90 b, Let vs ryse agayne with all spede. 1577B. Googe Heresbach's Husb. §29 Barley..must be geathered with more speede then other graynes. c1614Sir W. Mure Dido & æneas i. 77 Let vs a navie then prepair with speid. 1663S. Patrick Parab. Pilgr. xii. (1687) 81 All that surprizes me is..that such feeble words as mine should..with such speed excite so high a degree of Love. 1701Penn in Pennsylv. Hist. Soc. Mem. IX. 51 Get them transcribed by good hands with all speed. 1761Gray Odin 1 Uprose the King of Men with speed. 1847Helps Friends in C. i. viii. 128 Insist upon speed in learning... This speed gives the habit of concentrating attention. 1891Farrar Darkn. & Dawn lv, The execution of the Christians was to be hurried on with all speed.
b. Photogr. The relative rapidity with which a plate, film, etc., is acted upon by light or by a developer.
1892Abney Instr. Photogr. (ed. 9) 103 Measuring the speed and gradation of plates. 1935S. C. Johnson Foulsham's Compl. Photographer iii. 26 The last of the four factors which must be considered in determining the length of an exposure is the speed of the plate or film. 1977‘J. le Carré’ Hon. Schoolboy vi. 123 Loading a cassette into the camera, he set the film speed.
c. Photogr. = shutter speed s.v. shutter n. 3 b.
1917P. L. Anderson Pictorial Photogr. v. 95 Of course these high speeds are not necessary for indoor work, where an exposure of less than 1/8 second is practically never desired. 1947A. Ransome Great Northern? xxiii. 286 He set the aperture at f.11, the speed at a twenty-fifth of a second. 1977J. Hedgecoe Photographer's Handbk. 162 Speeds of 1/500–1/2000 sec allow you to freeze subject action beyond the perception of the eye.
d. The rate, measured in words per minute, at which a person can write shorthand or can type; spec. (freq. in pl. of both skills) applied to the capacity of a particular person.
1886Encycl. Brit. XXI. 840/2, 180 or 200 words a minute is no uncommon speed in certain styles of speech such as the conversational,—a speed which many [short⁓hand writers]..would never acquire. 1933Smith & Munro Guide to High Speed Writing in Pitman's Shorthand i. 10 It is well within the capacity of the majority..to reach a speed of, say, 160 words a minute, and..all writers of the system should make up their minds that that is to be their minimum speed. 1957C. Smith Case of Torches xi. 137 He..said there wouldn't be much shorthand or typing. So I thought—well, I don't want to lose my speeds, then I heard about this job. 1976H. Tracy Death in Reserve i. 14 I'm a sort of secretary... I've got high speeds in shorthand and typing.
7. An amphetamine drug, esp. methamphetamine, freq. taken intravenously. Cf. speedball 1 a. slang (orig. U.S.).
1967[see freak n.1 4 c]. 1967[see Methedrine]. 1969Fabian & Byrne Groupie viii. 66 Now he was on speed the paranoid fantasies were really beginning. 1970N. Saunders Alternative London xxii. 175 Amphetamines (‘speed’) are stimulants which can temporarily reduce fatigue, increase mental activity and give you a general feeling of well-being. 1975J. Symons Three Pipe Problem ix. 65 ‘What was he on?’.. ‘Speed mostly. Sometimes acid.’ 1978G. Vidal Kalki v. 109 Dr Lowell produced a hypodermic needle. I let him shoot me up... I assumed that he had given me speed.
8. In various prepositional phrases:
†a. in speed, with speed, speedily. Obs.
c1250Gen. & Ex. 1221 Abraham rapede him sone in sped for to fulfillen godes reed. c1375Sc. Leg. Saints xxix. (Placidas) 800 One þe morn scho went in sped to þe gret maister of þe knychtede. Ibid. xxxiii. (George) 233 Ta þi horse in spede, & pas in haste fra þis stede. a1586Sidney Ps. xxxi. i, Deliver me, deliver me in speed. 1596Shakes. Merch. V. iii. iv. 49 Take this same letter..In speed to Mantua.
b. at speed (also † at his speed, † on or upon the speed), at a rapid rate of movement.
1632Lithgow Trav. vi. 259 [He] stroke at me with his halfe-pike; but his horse being at his speed, I preuented his cruelty. 1646Evance Noble Order 26 They are most upon the speed after [this game]. 1670Milton Hist. Eng. Wks. 1738 II. 16 Riding on the speed down a steep Hill. 1781Cowper Table-T. 685 Always at speed, and never drawing bit. 1807Sir R. Wilson Priv. Diary (1862) II. viii. 293 We were galloping at speed when an unfortunate marais received my horse. 1865Visct. Milton & W. B. Cheadle N.-W. Passage by Land iv. (1867) 62 We gained on them rapidly, until within about 200 yards, when they went off at speed.
c. at (or † on) full speed, = 9 b.
1749Fielding Tom Jones xi. ii, The young lady looking behind her, saw several horses coming after on full speed. 1784Cowper Task vi. 331 The horse..That skims the spacious meadow at full speed. 1849Macaulay Hist. Eng. v. I. 610 The waggoners drove off at full speed. 1877M. M. Grant Sun-Maid ii, The Marquis drove at full speed.
9. In advb. phrases (without article):
†a. good speed, speedily, quickly. Obs.
a1300Cursor M. 4786, I sagh caf on þe watur flete;..dunward flette it wel god spede. 1375Barbour Bruce iv. 507 Ȝon is the kyng, but dreid; Ga we furth till hym bettir speid. c1420Avow. Arth. xl, Toward Carlele ryȝte He hies, gode spede. 1500–20Dunbar Poems xxxiii. 24 He fled away gud speid.
b. full speed, with the utmost speed possible. (Cf. 8 c.) Also attrib.
1382Wyclif Deut. iii. 18 Fulspeed goo ȝe before ȝoure britheren. 1654–66Earl of Orrery Parthen. (1676) 343 He thrust himself into the Wood full speed. 1700S. L. tr. Fryke's Voy. E. Ind. 212, I ran full speed towards her to help her. 1737[S. Berington] Mem. G. de Lucca (1738) 69 Ten or a dozen armed Turks came upon us full Speed from the Town. 1835W. Irving Tour Prairies xxi. 187 Away several of them dashed, full speed. 1860Merc. Marine Mag. VII. 139 The engines are going ‘full speed ahead’. 1890Times 18 Sept. 4/2 The Blanche..went out..for her four hours' full-speed trial of her engines.
10. a. to make speed, to hurry, to make haste.
1548Udall, etc. Erasm. Par. Matt. iii. 30 Jesus left Galile..& maketh spede vnto Jordane. 1548–9(Mar.) Bk. Comm. Prayer, Morn. Prayer, O God, make spede to saue me. 1635R. N. tr. Camden's Hist. Eliz. i. 60 Though she made but slow speed about it. 1663Extr. State P. rel. Friends (1911) ii. 180 Make all possible speed and gett Matts and deales for a Bulke head there if to be had. 1868Freeman Norm. Conq. (1877) II. vii. 117 They made good speed with their journey.
†b. to have, or get, the speed of, to outdistance, get ahead of (one). Obs.
1605Shakes. Macb. i. v. 36 Our Thane is comming: One of my fellowes had the speed of him. 1646Fuller Good Th. in Worse T. (1841) 106 The other had got the speed of him, having first accused himself,..and already obtained his pardon.
c. to be one's speed: to suit one's tastes, interests, or abilities; to be one's ‘cup of tea’ (cup n. 12 b (ii)). colloq. (chiefly U.S.).
1923E. L. Rice Adding Machine v. 77 ‘Did you ever carve a leg of lamb?’.. ‘No, corned beef was our speed.’ 1954R. P. Bissell High Water iii. 36 ‘I'm gonna buy you an Uncle Wiggly book,’ I said. ‘He'd be just your speed.’ 1970J. Sangster Touchfeather, Too i. 11 Lesbianism..isn't really my speed at all. I'm a normal type girl.
11. a. An inflammatory disease of cattle.
1704Dict. Rust. s.v., Speed. This Distemper in Cattle [1725 Fam. Dict., in Black Cattle] may well be so called, because it either mends or ends in three Days time. a1800Pegge Suppl. Grose, Speed, a disease among young cattle in the Autumn. North. 1834Youatt Cattle 362 In the West Riding, where from the rapidity with which it runs its course it is called the speed, it also generally begins behind. 1881Sheldon Dairy Farming 63/1 Calves are extremely liable to the fatal disease of ‘hyant’, ‘speed’.
b. A section of a cone-pulley giving a particular rate of speed.
1881Young Every Man his own Mechanic §550. 257 The steps or speeds of the cone pulleys are generally flat and driven by a flat leathern belt.
c. (See quot.)
1889W. Marcroft Ups & Downs 18 The class of machinery first made at the Hartford New Works, Werneth, was called speeds, generally known as roving frames.
12. attrib. and Comb.
a. In the names of devices or apparatus for regulating or indicating speed, as speed-check, speed-clock, speed-cone, speed-gauge, speed-meter, etc.
Descriptions of some of these are given by Knight Dict. Mech. (1875–84). The number of such combs. has greatly increased in recent years, as speed-band, speed-board, speed-brake, speed-gear, etc.
1898Westm. Gaz. 18 Nov. 9/1 The Sawyer footbrake—which appears to be a very reliable form of *speed-check.
1862Catal. Internat. Exhib., Brit. II. No. 3220, Watchman's detector clocks, steam or *speed clock.
1869Rankine Machinery & Millwork 312 The most convenient way of changing the velocity-ratio of rotation of a pair of shafts..is by means of ‘*speed-cones’.
1843Civil Eng. & Arch. Jrnl. VI. 248/2 The name Sillomêtre..might be well rendered in English *Speed-gauge. 1875Knight Dict. Mech. 2261/2 Osborne's speed-gage is for the purpose of determining the rate of speed at which shafting or wheels are rotating.
1858Simmonds Dict. Trade, *Speed-indicator, a gauge for testing the velocity of steam engines or machines. 1863A. Young Naut. Dict. 244 Tyssen's Ship's Log, or Speed Indicator. 1892Photogr. Ann. II. 341 A roller blind shutter, with outside speed indicator.
1898Kipling Fleet in Being ii, The Sub watches the *speed-lights of the next ahead, for as those lanterns change so must he adjust his pace.
1938Times 14 Oct. 15/4 The driver of the omnibus..traversed the evidence of the *speed-meter by pleading that his omnibus was so constructed as to be incapable of travelling at the alleged illegal speed. 1958Manch. Guardian 21 Jan. 6/3 The use of radar speedmeters to enforce the law on the roads promises to be more successful than most efforts to reduce..road accidents.
1875Knight Dict. Mech. 1262 The fly-wheel (of a foot-lathe), on which is the cord passing to the *speed-pulley of the head⁓stock.
Ibid. 2262 Such a machine..does not fulfill the conditions of a *speed-recorder.
1880Engineer XLIX. 404 *Speed regulator for light machinery.
1888Jacobi Printers' Vocab. 129 *Speed riggers, riggers graduated to allow of the driving band being shifted to increase or reduce the running power.
b. Denoting the attainment of, or capacity for, high-speed, as speed-bike, speed bowler, speed-gallop, speed launch, speed-skating (hence speed-skater, speed-skate).
Also, in recent use, speed-car, speed-lathe.
1852R. F. Burton Falconry Valley Indus viii. 81 The four miles of best speed gallop. 1885Daily News 24 Jan. 6/7 The performances of the exponents of speed skating. 1894Westm. Gaz. 6 Jan. 5/2 The tendency is altogether in favour of the ‘speed’ skate as against the slow, antiquated article. 1897Ibid. 27 Jan. 7/2 Speed-skaters..are thoroughly enjoying themselves. 1904Trans. Inst. Naval Archit. XLVI. 161 The American speed launches. 1950W. Hammond Cricketers' School v. 52 No one exemplified better than Larwood the true speed-bowler's action. 1955S. Spender Coll. Poems 1928–1953 ii. 74 Speed-bikes and tracks are real. 1977Arab Times 3 Dec. 10/5 West Indian speed bowlers Andy Roberts and Michael Holding helped bring about the collapse of the Australian ‘super test’ cricket team.
c. Miscellaneous, as speed-capacity, speed-law, speed-limit, speed-praise, speed-rate, speed record, speed-stroke, speed-trial, etc.; speed-time, speed-torque adjs.; speed-boat, a high-speed motor boat; hence speed-boating, riding in a speed-boat; speed bug [bug n.2 4 a] slang, one who enjoys travelling at high speed; an addict of speed sports; speed bump colloq. = sleeping policeman s.v. policeman 1 e; speed cop slang, a policeman or official detailed to enforce traffic laws, esp. a motorcycle patrolman; speed demon [demon 2 e] slang, one who likes to travel at great speed, a ‘speed bug’; also transf.; speed freak (orig. U.S.), a person addicted to an amphetamine drug (cf. sense 7 above); speed gun, a hand-held device for estimating the speed of a moving vehicle (proprietary name in U.S.); see also sense e; speed hog [hog n.1 7 c] slang, one who causes annoyance by exceeding the normal or legal speed limit; speed king slang (orig. U.S.), a motor-racing champion; speed limit, (a) the maximum speed a vehicle is capable of achieving (quot. 1893); (b) the maximum speed permitted by law on certain types of road or to specified classes of vehicle; speed-man, a cyclist who rides at a high rate of speed; speed merchant colloq., one whose ‘business’ concerns the use of speed; spec. (a) Cricket, a fast bowler; (b) one who enjoys driving or riding at high speed (cf. merchant n. 3); speed-read v. trans. and intr., to read rapidly by assimilating several phrases or sentences at once; so speed-reader, one who speed-reads; speed-reading vbl. n.; speed shop slang (see quot. 1954); speed trap, a system operated by the police for detecting motorists exceeding the speed-limit; Speed-walk U.S., a proprietary term for a moving walkway for conveying passengers; also (with lower-case initial) in general use; cf. Travolator; † speed while, a short time; Speedwriting orig. U.S., the proprietary name of a form of shorthand which uses the letters of the alphabet; hence speedwriter. See also speedball, speedway.
1911New Fry's Mag. May 224/1 The number of *speed⁓boats, pure and simple, has grown greatly. 1929‘Seamark’ Down River i. 6 Hillary Kittredge..had fallen under the lure of speed-boat racing. 1940R. Chandler Farewell, my Lovely xxxvii. 280 The speedboat scuffed the Montecito's ancient sides. 1976H. Kemelman Wednesday the Rabbi got Wet liii. 311 There are houses all around this little lake and each..must have a speedboat or an outboard.
1928Sunday Dispatch 5 Aug. 11/3 The heavy demand for petrol, created by the new sport of ‘*speed’ boating. 1975Country Life 30 Oct. 1129/1 A useful side effect of the speed-boating..was the weed being cut by the propellers of the boats.
1914Automobile Topics XXXIV. 191/1 The trials..were crowded with excitement for the *speed bugs who filled the grandstands. 1928Speedbug [see aquaplane].
1975Public Works Aug. 73/1 *Speed bumps had been installed in many apartment complexes and shopping center parking lots. 1978T. L. Smith Money War (1979) i. 59 As he approached the speed bumps, Hogan slowed... They took the bumps gently and then pulled off the road.
1900Daily Express 16 July 1/1 A motor car with a claimed *speed capacity of 85 miles an hour.
1924Cape Argus 12 Jan. 20 These ‘*speed cops’, however, wear uniform and are not got up to appear like ordinary motor-cyclists. 1933Amer. Speech VIII. 72/2 His Grace, on being stopped, demanded ‘Are you a speed-cop?’ The patriotic magistrates fined him {pstlg}10. 10s. and suspended his license for three months. 1948Sat. Even. Post 3 July 77/3 Speed cops still speak politely to me.
1941*Speed demon [see dice v. 1 a]. 1962A. Lurie Love & Friendship vii. 113 Helen, the regular cashier, was a speed demon. 1971Black Scholar Jan. 35/1 Jack Johnson..has been called many things, e.g. show off, fool, speed demon.
1967*Speed-freak [see freak n.1 4 c]. 1973R. Mills Young Outsiders ii. 63 In the summer of 1970 Jimmy would have been labelled a ‘speedfreak’ within the circles in which he moved.
1972Official Gaz. (U.S. Patent Office) 1 Aug. tm 29/1 CMI, Incorporated, Minturn, Colo. Filed Feb. 1, 1971. *Speed Gun for Traffic Radar..First use Dec. 10, 1970. 1972Tuscaloosa (Ala.) News 14 Dec. 32/4 The hand-held Digital Doppler, a new tool police are using to catch speeders... The police purchased eight of the devices—also known as ‘speed guns’. 1976Tel. (Brisbane) 24 June 1 The speed guns are being used by traffic police mainly in areas of potential traffic hazard.
1928Daily Express 23 Aug. 9/4 The scheme to limit ‘*speed-hogs’. 1974Country Life 30 May 1360/1, I join issue with the RYA on their objection to..boat registration... Without it the speed hog..will often continue to go undetected.
1913Illustr. Technical World Mag. June 493/1 (caption) Ralph De Palma. The ‘*speed king’ of 1912. 1938C. Graves Swiss Summer 108 German princes, English speed-kings..are usually to be found here. 1976Western Mail (Cardiff) 22 Nov. 3/2 Yesterday's event was held to raise money for the memorial fund to the Welsh speed king who died in a rally incident in the summer.
1926Scribner's Mag. Aug. 152/1, I hear you break *speed-laws as recklessly as hearts.
1893Outing XXII. 104/2 Both assured her owner that she had not touched her *speed limit. 1902To-day 13 Mar. 648 The Automobile Club urges that the existing speed limit should be abolished. 1909Chambers' Jrnl. Mar. 225/1 A speed-limit sometimes as low as..four and three-quarter miles per hour. 1926Motor 26 Oct. 561/1 (heading) The speed limit. 35–40 m.p.h. or none at all? 1970P. Laurie Scotland Yard v. 113 Fifty mph..is only ten mph above the speed limit there. 1973H. McCloy Change of Heart i. 6 As for my mother, I can't make her drive ten miles over the speed limit.
1896Cycling Times 10 June 2/4 Smith, who is a ‘*speed man,’ may be able to push the same machine..to the tune of twenty [miles] an hour.
1913J. B. Hobbs How to make Century xi. 80 The *speed merchant was now sending up such hot samples that his every delivery was more likely to take a wicket than offer a chance of runs. 1923Daily Mail 15 Feb. 6 The goggled ‘speed merchant’ cannot see so well as usual. 1951Ithaca (N.Y.) Jrnl. 9 Aug. 21/1 [He] had a glass arm and he certainly was no speed merchant. 1982J. B. Hilton Sunset Law i. 11 A County Court judge..drove at reckless speed about the highways, menacing speed-merchants with a Smith & Wesson.
1605Sylvester Du Bartas ii. iii. i. Vocation 861 Thou that thrice..Losest thy *speed-praise, and thy life beside.
1894C. H. Cook Thames Rights 25 The reasons against fixing a *speed-rate are these.
1960Time 24 Nov. 21 Bagwell taught himself to *speed-read, gulping whole paragraphs at a glance. 1973Sat. Rev. World (U.S.) 20 Nov. 64/2 (caption), I speed-read your last book in two minutes and twenty seconds.
1965N.Y. Times 5 June 22 The Evelyn Wood Reading Dynamics Institute..teaches prospective *speed-readers to see every word on the page—but to read three words at once, not one word out of three. 1975‘S. Marlowe’ Cawthorn Jrnls. xix. 162 He wished he had something to read... He was a speed-reader. He had an IQ of 140. 1983Listener 20 Jan. 25/2 A library for an extra-terrestrial speed-reader cruising above the British Isles.
1965G. Jackson Let. 3 Oct. in Soledad Brother (1971) 89 Be sure to look into the course on *speed reading. 1977Time 3 Jan. 13/3 Having promised to read every bill brought up before the state senate, he ran into 2,300 of them. So he took a speed-reading course and read them all.
1935P. Frankau I find Four People iv. 235 About this time the copywriter accomplished a *speed-record for journalism. 1942E. Paul Narrow St. xvii. 132 The Bremen made her maiden trip to New York and set a speed record. 1954Amer. Speech XXIX. 102 *Speed shop, a parts house, where engine parts and equipment are sold, and sometimes where hot rods are built. 1962Punch 17 Oct. 561/1 Engineering firms and speed shops supply every beefed or stripped refinement. 1977Hot Car Oct. 49/3 You can often pick up reasonable headers off the shelf from a good speed shop.
a1618Sylvester Mem. Mortalities ii. Wks. (Grosart) II. 223 Having Death's *speed-stroak undiscerned given.
1917A. T. Dover Electric Traction ii. 8 A *speed-time curve, for a run between two stations, is usually made up of periods of—(1) acceleration; (2) constant speed, or ‘free running’..; (3) coasting..; and (4) retardation or braking. 1976P. R. White Planning for Public Transport x. 216 In urban areas, higher rates of acceleration followed by a period of coasting can enable a given schedule to be covered using less energy (this is illustrated with reference to speed-time curves in Chapter 4).
1920Whittaker's Electr. Engineer's Pocket-bk. (ed. 4) 544 For electric traction on railways and tramways, a motor possessing a variable *speed-torque characteristic is preferable to one possessing a constant speed-torque characteristic. 1962G. A. T. Burdett Automatic Control Handbk. i. 2 The motor must often have a speed/torque characteristic to match that of the driven machine.
1927U. Sinclair Oil! 9 ‘Sit still,’ said the man. ‘Don't look round. A *speed-trap!’ 1980G. M. Fraser Mr American xviii. 344 She had been caught in a police speed trap on the way to Brighton.
1883W. H. Maw Rec. Pract. Marine Engineering I. 286/2 It was not found possible to take indicator diagrams on the full *speed trials, but a considerable number of trials were run at lower speeds progressing up to 11·74 knots per hour. 1885Pall Mall G. 14 Jan. 11/1 The speed trials of the Umbria..and the Collingwood.
1955Britannica Bk. of Year 490/1 *Speedwalk, a moving sidewalk. 1956Official Gaz. (U.S. Patent Office) 4 Sept. tm 9 Passenger Belt Conveyors, Inc., Akron, Ohio... Speedwalk..For Passenger Belt Conveying Apparatus. First use Mar. 29, 1954. 1960Times Rev. Industry Apr. 28/1 A twin-track passenger-carrying conveyor belt..is being constructed in London... Known as speed-walks.. and travolators, at least two dozen installations are already in use in the United States. 1978Jrnl. R. Soc. Arts CXXVI. 431/1 We can expect to see improvements in short-haul feeder and ancillary systems such as speedwalks, travelators and escalators.
13..E.E. Allit. P. B. 1285 Alle he spoyled spitously in a *sped whyle.
1955W. Gaddis Recognitions iii. ii. 740 You didn't send me a *speedwriter down.
1925Speedwriting (Brief Eng. Systems, Inc.) 7 (caption) *Speedwriting, the wonderfully efficient new system of shorthand, developed by Miss Emma B. Dearborn, can be written after a few weeks' study, either by pencil or on any make of type⁓writer. 1927Official Gaz. (U.S. Patent Office) 8 Aug. 242/1 Speedwriting... Printed Lessons and Examination Sheets Issued from Time to Time. Claims use since Dec. 29, 1924. 1929Radio Times 8 Nov. 439/2 Speedwriting (The Universal Shorthand). 1938E. B. White Quo Vadimus? 24 They sell a new kind of shorthand course, called the Quigley Method of Intensive Speedwriting. 1962New Scientist 5 July 11/1 Part of the Speedwriting method is to cut out most of the vowels and unnecessary movement in making other letters. 1976T. Stoppard Dirty Linen 24 You do speedwriting I suppose?.. Yes, if I'm given enough time. 1982Barr & York Official Sloane Ranger Handbk. 84/1 Every Sloane secretarial college has a nimbus of girls with their shorthand books or red speed⁓writing books.
d. With vbl. ns. and ppl. adjs., as speed-making, speed-mingling, speed-multiplying, speed-producing.
1548Elyot, Properantia, haast, speede makyng. 1611Cotgr., Acceleration, hast, or speedmaking. 1875Knight Dict. Mech. 2262/1 This gearing-up or..speed-multiplying..is found in many kinds of machinery. Ibid. 2262/2 A system of speed-multiplying gear. 1885–94R. Bridges Eros & Psyche Nov. vi, Betwixt the twin speed-mingling fans of gold. 1893Outing XXII. 106 Another great speed-producing son of the same sire. 1901Munsey's Mag. XXV. 737/1 When the colt settled into his stride again, the effort at speed making was continued as before.
e. Photogr. In names for an electronic flash-gun, as speed flash, speed gun, speed lamp, speed-light.
1940A. L. M. Sowerby Wall's Dict. Photogr. (ed. 15) 315 Externally, a speed-gun takes the form of a box or casing that can be attached to the camera to make the whole a single unit. 1950W. F. Berg Exposure 339 A special kind of flash lamp is the speed flash, also known as multiple or electronic flash... One of the most important advantages of speed lamps is their exceedingly short flash time. 1953Sun (Baltimore) 10 Jan. 5 (caption) A photo snapped of Prime Minister Winston Churchill..showed five-sided ‘spots’. It was raining at the time and was attributed to reflections from a speedlight. 1969A. Feininger Compl. Colour Photographer ii. 45 Electronic flash or speedlight has..advantages over conventional flashbulbs. 1979SLR Camera Jan. 36/1 The AE-1 is..an automated system camera. It includes a power winder for auto film transport, a speedlite for auto flash photography and an automatic exposure control.
▸ up to speed: (a) up to full or working speed; at or up to a necessary or expected level of performance, up to scratch; (b) (in extended use) fully informed, up to date.
1879N.Y. Times 25 Nov. 5/3 The mare was shown and her qualities and record were expatiated on. She looked decent and up to speed. 1926A. E. Newton Greatest Bk. in World v. 139 Starting due east, almost before you have had time to get up to speed, you will pass the Tredyffrin Country Club. 1927A. E. Clayton Performance & Design Direct Current Machines xii. 264 If a motor be brought up to speed and then switched off, it will slow down as represented by the running-down curve. 1972J. Quick & T. Labau Handbk. Film Production xvi. 178 When the camera has been brought up to speed the cameraman calls ‘speed’. 1974N.Y. Times 15 Aug. 33/5 ‘To bring up to speed’ was used occasionally in the Watergate hearings, meaning ‘to brief’. 1980Aviation Week & Space Technol. (Nexis) 8 Dec. 9 The number one task is to bring the new secretary up to speed to begin running the Defense Dept. with its $150-billion annual budget on Jan. 21. 1997When Saturday Comes Jan. 13/1 By spending only four months of the year in the country, he could hardly expect to be properly up to speed on the local players on the fringes of the national squad.
▸ colloq.on speed: (a) (of a person) under the influence of amphetamines; (b) in similative fig. contexts (esp. in —— on speed): as if under the influence of amphetamines, esp. acting in an extremely frenetic or frenzied manner.
1969J. Fabian & J. Byrne Groupie viii. 66 Now he was on speed the paranoid fantasies were really beginning. 1975C. James Fate of Felicity Fark vi. 55 On he gabbled as if ripped on Speed. 1991Globe & Mail (Toronto) 16 Dec. a6/3 Mr. Mulroney has been scrambling across the country like a little Dutch boy on speed, trying to plug various leaks in the dikes of support. 1995N. Blincoe Acid Casuals xxxi. 225 We found Burgess prowling round the offices of a broken-down club in Longsight, out of his mind on speed and vodka. 1999C. Newland Society Within (2000) 192 Storming into her bedroom like the Tasmanian Devil on speed, it took her sister-in-law Sonia just one glance to guess who their unwanted visitor had been.
▸ speed camera n. orig. and chiefly Brit. a mounted roadside camera, automatically triggered to capture speeding offences on film, esp. for use in subsequent penalties or prosecution (cf. Gatso n.); (also) a hand-held camera used for the same purpose (cf. speed gun n. at Compounds 4).
1991Times 11 Nov. 3/4 Mr Rifkind could reinforce this initiative by the introduction of random breath testing at special road-side check points, and the widespread implementation of red light and *speed cameras, which would provide a further and substantial saving of young lives. 1993Brit. Med. Jrnl. 9 Jan. 125 Speed camera records showed about 11% of drivers exceeding the speed limit in July 1990 compared with over 20% before the campaign. 1995AA Mag. Winter 24 The flash of the speed camera is becoming an ever more common occurrence around the UK as police forces crack down on speeding motorists in their quest to improve road safety. 2002Daily Record (Glasgow) (Nexis) 21 May 2 Police were also banned from using hand-held speed cameras in unmarked vehicles at the roadside.
▸ speed dating n. a process by which people seeking romantic relationships attend organized events at which they have a short conversation with each of several potential partners.
A proprietary name in the United States.Originating in the U.S. Jewish community; some events still focus on people belonging to a particular ethnic or cultural group.
2000Los Angeles Times (Orange County ed.) 15 Jan. b10/1 If you're Jewish and dating in Southern California, you may want to try ‘*speed dating’... Like other Aish HaTorah programs, speed dating is meant to reverse the increasing tendency of young Jews to marry outside the faith. 2001Weekend Austral. (Brisbane) 17 Feb. (Rev. Suppl.) 7/2 A guaranteed conversation with 10 different single guys within an hour? Welcome to the newest idiot-proof introduction to introductions: speed dating. 2004Evening Standard (Nexis) 11 July c18 Britain's first naked speeddating event will take place in Brighton next month.
▸ speed garage n. Brit. a form of garage music (garage n. and adj. Additions) originating in the United Kingdom in the late 1990s, characterized by a fast beat and a heavy bass line like that of drum and bass.
1997Anyone fancy talking about House Music? in alt.music.house (Usenet newsgroup) 3 Apr. If you ask me UK Garage, London Underground, Sunday Scene, *Speed Garage, Garidge or whatever you want to call it seems to be taking over London at the moment. 2002D. Aitkenhead Promised Land i. 10 Underground garage is now known as speed garage, and with its transfer to mainstream popularity seems to have lost much of its delicate subtlety.
▸ speed hump n. = sleeping policeman at sleeping adj. 1f; cf. road hump n. at road n. Additions, speed bump n. at Compounds 4.
[1946N.Y. Times 27 Jan. 3 (advt.) Discouragement to autos was considered duty of many American municipalities when ‘horseless carriage’ first appeared on streets, terrifying pedestrians. Ordinances put anti-speed humps in paving.] 1974Times 17 May 2/6 (heading) [Road Traffic] Bill proposes *speed humps. 1983Chicago Sun-Times 23 Aug. 15 The west suburb's council is considering a proposal that one or more ‘speed humps’ be built as an experiment. 2000Transport Matters (Greater Manchester Transportation Unit) Spring 2/5 The transport blueprint aims to help pedestrians by: cutting traffic speeds near homes using speed humps, road narrowing and 20 mph areas.
▪ II. speed, v.|spiːd|
Forms: 1 spedan, 3–5 speden (3 -enn, 5 -yn), 4–5 sped, 6 spede; 4–7 speede, 6– speed; 5–6 Sc. speid, 6 spead. pa. tense 2 spædde, 2–6 spedde, 3 spede, 4– sped, 4–7 spedd. pa. pple. 3–5 i-sped, 5 i-spedde; 4 y-sped(d, y-spedde; 3– sped, 4–6 spedd, 5–6 spedde, 8– speeded. Also 3rd sing. pres. 3–4 spet, 5 spette.
[OE. spédan (once; otherwise ᵹespédan, early ME. i-speden), = MDu. spoeden, spueden (Du. spoeden), OS. spôdian (MLG. and LG. spôden), OHG. spuoten (G. spuden, sputen, from LG.), f. the stem *spōd-: see speed n.]
I.
1. a. intr. Of persons: To succeed or prosper; to meet with success or good fortune; to attain one's purpose or desire. Now arch.
993Battle of Maldon 34 Ne þurfe we us spillan, ᵹif ᵹe spedaþ to þam. a1122O.E. Chron. (Laud MS.) an. 656, Swa he spedde swa him Crist huðe, swa þet in feuna ᵹeare wæs þet mynstre ᵹare. 1154Ibid. an. 1140, Eustace..wende to biᵹæton Normandi þær þurh, oc he spedde litel. c1200Ormin 12317 He.. wollde winnenn Crist..All alls he wann Eve & Adam, Ȝiff þatt he mihhte spedenn. c1275Moral Ode 258 in O.E. Misc., Ne his poure kunesmen at him ne myhte nouht spede. a1300Cursor M. 734 In his auen schap To sped he hopd haue na hap. 1362Langl. P. Pl. A. iii. 164 Menede hire to þe kyng To haue space to speken, spede ȝif heo mihte. c1425Brut 363 So the King come to Engelond ayen, for lesyng of moo of his peple, and þus he spedde not þere. 1456Sir G. Haye Law Arms (S.T.S.) 13 Quhen he sawe that he mycht nocht in that maner spede. 1500–20Dunbar Poems xiii. 24 Some speidis [at law], for he in court hes menis. a1542Wyatt in Tottel's Misc. (Arb.) 53 Soonest he spedes, that most can lye and fayn. 1647N. Bacon Disc. Govt. Eng. i. iv. (1739) 9 [They] sent for aid where they were most like to speed for the present, and left the future to look to it self. a1688Bunyan Israel's Hope Encour. Wks. 1855 I. 614 Wouldst thou be a man that would pray and prevail? Why, pray to God in the faith of the merits of Christ, and speed. 1825Scott Betrothed xxiii, Here we come near to the spot where we hope to speed, or no where. 1835Browning Paracelsus iii. 989 This he has done and nobly. Speed that may! 1836J. Martin Discourses 367 It is a thing in which we are sure of speeding.
Prov.c1470Gol. & Gaw. 879 Oft in romanis I reid: Airly sporne, late speid. 1593R. Harvey Philad. 5 He that goeth aspying goeth aspeeding. [See also spare v.1 6 c.]
†b. Const. of: To succeed in getting, obtaining, or accomplishing. Obs.
c1400Mandeville (Roxb.) xxxiii. 151 Many grete lordes has assayd diuerse tymes to passe;..bot þai myght noȝt spede of þaire iournee. 1530Hickscorner (1905) 148 But there he could not speed of his prey. 1530Palsgr. 727/1 And y maye spede of this ones, I care nat and I never sewe to him whyle I lyve. 1573L. Lloyd Marrow of Hist. (1653) 256 Untill she sped of the like chance that Procris did, she could never be quiet. 1600Pory tr. Leo's Africa i. 41 Their young men may goe a wooing to diuers maides, till such time as they haue sped of a wife. 1643Prynne Sov. Power Parl. App. 26 But he sped little of his purpose.
2. a. With advs.: To succeed or fare well, ill, etc.
a1122O.E. Chron. (Laud MS.) an. 1114, Sona þær æfter sende se cyng him..to Rome æfter þes ærcb' pallium, & an munec mid him.., & hi þær well spæddon. c1200Ormin 14242 Swa þatt teȝȝ mihhtenn spedenn wel To winnenn erþlic ahhte. c1250Gen. & Ex. 1585 And ðu salt ðe betre sped, If it beð bi ðin faderes red. Ibid. 3314 ‘Ille,’ he seiden, ‘haue we sped’. c1330R. Brunne Chron. Wace (Rolls) 4279 Y trowe þou schalt fol euele spede. 1377Langl. P. Pl. B. iii. 270 Spille it and spare it nouȝte, þow shalt spede þe bettere. a1425tr. Arderne's Treat. Fistula, etc. 75, I spedde effectuously with sich a clistre þat is þer made. 1483Caxton Gold. Leg. 113 b/1 He answerd that he had euyl spedde. 1573Tusser Husb. (1878) 44 But worse shall he speed, that soweth ill seed. 1577–87Holinshed Chron. I. 128/2 Some warres he had, and sped diuerslie. a1628Preston New Cov. (1634) 86 When we pray best, we speed best. 1676Hobbes Iliad ii. 116, I wonder less that we no better speed. 1791Cowper Odyss. vii. 61 For boldest men Speed ever best.
b. With how (or however).
c1230Hali Meid. 27 Hwase, of engel, lihteð to iwurðen lahere þen a beast,..loke hu ha spede! c1290S. Eng. Leg. I. 148 Heo tolden þe kinge al heore cas, hov heo hadde i-sped. a1300–1400Cursor M. 17288 + 123 Þai..told vnto þer maisters how þat þai hade spedd. c1450Lovelich Merlin 9656 Merlyne hadde hym told..hou that they thanne spedden jn desert. a1533Ld. Berners Huon lxxxi. 247 He demaunded how I had sped in my iourney. 1563B. Googe Eglogs, etc. (Arb.) 114, I entred in, with fearefull Harte, muche doutyng howe to speede. 1617Moryson Itin. ii. 109 Not caring how the messengers sped, so the letters were not understood. 1653in Hatton Corr. (Camden) 9 How⁓ever wee speed heere, 4 of our Est India shipps are taken by the Dutch. 1766Goldsm. Vic. W. x, Well, my girls, how have you sped? 1814Southey Roderick xxv. 501 Go tell thy father now how thou hast sped With all thy treasons! 1852C. M. Yonge Cameos (1877) I. xvii. 129 If she could thus treat a royal uncle, how must not men inferior in rank have sped?
c. With as or thus.
1649Milton Eikon. 15 In this Warr against the Church hee hath sped as other haughty Monarchs, whom God hath harden'd to the same enterprize. 1653Holcroft Procopius, Pers. Wars i. 24 Thus the Romans spedd with these people.
3. impers. To go or fare (well or ill) with a person, etc. † In early use with dat. or to.
c1205Lay. 18695 Þa iseh Vðer king Þat him ne spedde naðing. Ibid. 29508 Þu scalt..beode þer godes godd-spel; Þe scal spede ful wel. 1297R. Glouc. (Rolls) 8163 Þe cristine were of þe sarazins an onywar biset, & vor þe sarazins were ywar, hom spedde wel þe bet. a1325Life Adam 67 in Horstm. Altengl. Leg. (1878) 140 To Adam wende we, And loke we hou him spet Þat..He brak godes comandment. 1545Brinklow Compl. xxiv. (1874) 69 Comenly it spedeth vnhappyly to that reame, where thei be embassytors. 1610J. Guillim Heraldry iii. xii. 122 Though sometime it speed with them contrary to their Titles. 1854Ferrier Inst. Metaph. Introd. 8 As time has advanced, it has constantly sped worse with philosophy, instead of speeding better.
4. a. Of things: To prove successful; to thrive.
c1200Ormin 1765 Godess enngleþeod Ne maȝȝ nohht unnderrstanndenn Hu mikell Cristess bede maȝȝ Towarrd hiss faderr spedenn. a1300Cursor M. 28317 Oþer mans beginyng of gode dede Oft-sith i letted for to spede. a1586Sidney Ps. xxxvii. iii, Lay all thy trusting On hym, and he will make it speed. 1626W. Yonge Diary (Camden) 93 Arminianism and Pelagianism do much speed abroad, in divers parts of this realm. 1713Swift Cadenus & Vanessa Wks. 1755 III. ii. 7 A project..which, if it sped, Wou'd shew the merits of the cause. 1866Contemp. Rev. I. 263 The suits of the Bishop of Salisbury against Dr. Williams and of Dr. Fendall against Mr. Wilson had not sped.
b. With modifying words (as well, ill, how, etc.): To succeed, fare, go (on), make progress, etc.
a1250Owl & Night. 763 Oft spet wel a lute lyste, Þar muche strengþe..myste. c1400Gamelyn 800 ‘I se wel,’ seyde Gamelyn, ‘the justice is sette; Go aforn, Adam, and loke how it spette.’ a1425tr. Arderne's Treat. Fistula, etc. 95 And so schal it better spede. 1449in Cal. Proc. Chanc. Q. Eliz. (1830) II. 55 The xxvj li. levyng behynde shall be wele and truly paied..unto the forseid Thomas like as the forseid werkes spedyn. 1545Brinklow Lament. A iv b, The Cytie neuer speadeth so euell, as when they so ronne a whore hountinge. 1681W. Robertson Phraseol. Gen. s.v., This business speeds well under our hands. 1733W. Ellis Chiltern & Vale Farm. 79 The Acorn here may speed very well. 1781Cowper Conversat. 316 Relate how many weeks they kept their bed, How an emetic or cathartic sped. 1855Prescott Phillip II, i. viii. I. 114 Philip's suit no longer sped so favorably as before.
†5. To be profitable, expedient, or useful. Chiefly impers. Obs.
c1380Wyclif Serm. Sel. Wks. II. 109 It spediþ to ȝou þat o man die for þe puple. 1382― Ecclus. xxxvii. 31 Forsothe not alle thingus to alle speden. 1423Jas. I. Kingis Q. xxviii, Ane wofull wrecche that to no wight may spede. a1425tr. Arderne's Treat. Fistula, etc. 3 For-als-miche in hard thingis it spedith to studiers for to perseuere and abide.
6. a. trans. To further or assist (a person); to cause to succeed or prosper. Also refl. Now arch.
a1240Sawles Warde in O.E. Hom. I. 267 Hwa se þis writ haueð ired, Ant crist him haueð swa isped, Ich bidde..Þet ȝe bidden ofte for me. a1300Cursor M. 29002 Seuen ar þai [sc. boons] þat vs mai spede Til al þat euer we haue of nede. c1386Chaucer Reeve's T. 113, I prey you speed us in al that ye may. c1430Syr Tryam. 1196 Y tryste in God that he schalle me spede. 1503–4Act 19 Hen. VII, c. 28 Preamb., The Kinges Highnes..is therfor enclyned to here & spede resonably the seid peticioners. 1530Palsgr. 727/1 Serve God well and he shall spede you in all your busynes. 1601Shakes. Jul. C. i. ii. 88 For let the Gods so speed mee, as I loue The name of Honor, more then I feare death.
absol.13..E.E. Allit. P. B. 551 On spec of a spote may spede to mysse Of þe syȝte of þe souerayn þat syttez so hyȝe. 1819Scott Ivanhoe xli, Achieving an adventure, with only his good sword, and his good arm to speed.
b. In the phrase God speed me, thee, etc., or variations of this. (Cf. God-speed.) Also God speed the plough, etc.
(a)c1320Sir Tristr. 2266 He may bidde god me spede. 1375Barbour Bruce xviii 389 ‘Do than,’ he said, ‘and god the speid!’ c1386Chaucer Knt.'s T. 1700 God spede you; goth forth and ley on faste. c1400Gamelyn 827 God spede me this day at my newe werk. c1470Henry Wallace ii. 93 Go hens,..the mekill dewill the speid. 1526Tindale Matt. xxviii. 9 Iesus mett them sayinge: God spede you. 1553T. Wilson Rhet. (1580) 4 As for other that haue no witte, thei wil neuer learne it, therefore God speede them. 1617in Birch Crt. & Times Jas. I (1848) II. 17 God speed him, and send him a better voyage than I even hope for! 1641Milton Reform. ii. Wks. 1851 III. 42 The little adoe..puts mee into the mood to tell you a tale ere I proceed further; and Menenius Agrippa speed us. 1677Miége Fr. Dict. ii. s.v., God speed you well. 1819Scott Ivanhoe xxxii, Rowena waved a graceful adieu to him..—the Saxon bade God speed him. 1866–in Sc. use (Eng. Dial. Dict.).
absol.c1586C'tess Pembroke Ps. cxxix. v, God speed, friendes, God give you joy. 1594Shakes. Rich. III, ii. iii. 6 3 Cit. Neighbours, God speed. 1602[see (b)].
(b)c1500Spede the Plough 8 I pray to God, spede wele the plough. 1569T. Norton Warning agst. Papists O iv, Let vs draw..together, and then say and sing merily, God spede the ploughe of England. 1589Horsey Trav. (Hakl. Soc.) App. 310 Thearby have they mayntayned their decayed trade..by meanes of their traffycque. God speed their plowe! 1602Dekker Honest Wh. xii, Duke. God speed, father. Mad. God speed the Plow, thou shalt not speed me. 1610Fletcher Faithf. Sheph. ii. i, Great Pan for Syrinx sake bid speed our Plow. 1781Cowper Charity 123 Heav'n speed the canvass, gallantly unfurl'd [etc.].
†c. In the adjuration so God me speed, etc. Obs.
c1320Sir Tristr. 1631 Þe king swore, so god him spede, Þat boþen schuld haue riȝt. 1393Langl. P. Pl. C. xi. 107 ‘Ȝut sauereþ me nat þi sawe,’ quaþ ich, ‘so me crist spede’. c1440[see so adv. 19]. c1460Towneley Myst. x. 194 Whos is that chyld, so god the spede?
†d. Const. of or with: To provide or furnish (one) with something. Chiefly in pa. pple. Also refl. Obs.
1530Tindale Answ. Sir T. More Wks. (1573) 249/2 We beleue, we deserue to be sped of all that our blynd hartes desire. 1554Interlude of Youth in Hazl. Dodsley II. 17, I can speed thee of a servant of price, That will do thee good service. 1576G. Pettie Petite Pallace 36 She..began to cast in her head how she myght be sped of an other husband. 1600Holland Livy iii. xlvi. 119 For this time I am sped of sureties ynough. 1601― Pliny I. 144 There also a man may be sped with bondslaues. 1665R. Brathwait Comment Two T. (1901) 56 Of such an one she speeds her self, that it seems his Soul deserv'd well of her.
7. In pa. pple. (see also prec.):
a. Furthered or brought to the end or condition desired; so dealt with as to be satisfied or well situated. (In later use also with well.)
13..Cursor M. 24752 (Gött), Þat gifs me list of hir to rede, For he es all spedd þat scho will spede. 1390Gower Conf. I. 94 Er thou be sped, Thou schalt me leve such a wedd, That [etc.]. c1420Lydg. Lond. Lyckpeny v, But, lackyng mony, I could not be sped. c1450Reg. Oseney 111 If hit happe my wife to be i-spedde in child-beryng at Barton. 1566Pasquine in Traunce 35 For the moste part, she that went to bed a Virgin, arose from thence spedde with hir errande. 1571Campion Hist. Irel. vi. (1633) 18 And then if they can get a piece of rugge to cover them, they are well sped. 1657W. Rand tr. Gassendi's Life Peiresc i. 110 [He] went on purpose..into Dauphine; and returned sped, about the beginning of the year following. 1680H. More Apocal. Apoc. 208 But they that have obtained their glorified body,..they are sped already, and are safe from this fate. 1713Guardian No. 100 (1756) II. 78 When the maid was once sped, she was not suffered to tantalize the male part of the commonwealth. 1864Swinburne Atalanta 368 That this great hunt with heroes for the hounds May leave thee memorable and us well sped.
b. In contexts implying an evil plight or awkward situation.
c1530Remedy Love lxxiii. in Chaucer's Wks. (1532) 368 b/1 To warne him nowe he is too farre spedde; It is to late him to forbede. 1596Shakes. Tam. Shr. v. ii. 185 We three are married, but you two are sped. 1601Holland Pliny II. 49 Like as those that be sped with the yellow jaunise. 1616Marlowe's Faustus in M.'s Wks. (1910) 217 Benu. 'Zons, hornes againe. Mart. Nay chafe not man, we all are sped. 1709Prior Ladle 92 Told 'em, for Supper or for Bed They might go on, and be worse sped. 1821Scott Kenilw. v, ‘We are fairly sped now,’ said Foster; ‘yonder is thy lord's signal’.
c. Appointed or elected to (or as) something. rare.
c1380Wyclif Wks. (1880) 23 For who so may most gold brynge sunnest schal be sped to grete benefices. 1691Wood Ath. Oxon. II. 18 His father got him to be sped a Kings-scholar at Westminster. 1903in Farmer & Henley Slang Dict. VI. 307 Sped to New College = elected to a scholarship.
†d. Prepared, equipped; skilled or versed in something. Obs.
a1450tr. De Imitatione iii. xxi. 89 Wherfore be þou spedde & redy to fiȝtyng, if þou wolt haue þe victory. 1526Skelton Magnyf. 562 Can you a remedy for a tysyke, That sheweth yourselfe thus spedde in physyke? a1529― P. Sparowe 788 In Chauser I am sped, His tales I haue red.
8. a. To promote or further (a matter); to bring to or towards a successful issue or termination; to accomplish or carry out.
a1300Cursor M. 23920 Mi will ic hope þou will me spede. c1386Chaucer Sec. Nun's T. 357 Every maner boone That he God asked, it were sped ful soone. 1390Gower Conf. I. 162 Thei kepte that non other scholde Touchende of love his cause spede. a1425tr. Arderne's Treat. Fistula, etc. 36 Þan, forsoþe, may he..finaly spede þe forseid cure aboute four & tuenty wekes. c1450Merlin v. 87 And ye haue also wele spedde the entente of Merlin. 1526Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W. 1531) 168 This holy prayer for his ennemyes anone was spedde,..for it conuerted saynt Paule. 1568Grafton Chron. II. 8 The next yere when king William had sped his businesse in the sayde Countrie, he returned into England. 1633G. Herbert Temple, Cross iv, Ev'n when my hopes seem to be sped, I am to grief alive. 1697Dryden Virg. Past. vii. 44 These Branches of a Stag..Young Mycon offers, Delia, to thy Shrine. But speed his hunting with thy Pow'r divine. 1771E. Griffith Hist. Lady Barton II. 218 The only amends we can make you, for having sped our frolic, is to desire the favour of your company to dinner. 1833Mrs. Browning Prometh. Bound Wks. (1904) 150/1 May no sin be sped in the word that is said. 1847Emerson Poems (1857) 90 He had so sped his wise affairs That he caught Nature in his snares.
b. spec. To promote, expedite, prosecute (a bill, plea, etc.), as a matter of official or legal business.
1429Rolls of Parlt. IV. 343/2 No Bill shal be sped but in the place ordeyned. 1482in Rymer Fœdera (1711) XII. 164/2 In passyng and spedyng Letters of Transsumpt under the Seale of our Office of Mairaltie. 1566Reg. Privy Council Scot. I. 466 Nocht to compone nor speid ony confirmatioun upoun the few abonewrittin. 1591Lambarde Archeion (1635) 143 No Bill be sped, but in place ordained for Councell. 1641Termes de la Ley (1659) 94 All plees touching the life or maihem of a man, called Plees of the Crown, are usually held and sped in the King's name. 1726Ayliffe Parergon 27 All those Writings and Matters, which..are sped in open Court at the Instance of one or both of the Parties Litigant. 1884Law Rep. 27 Chanc. Div. 63 The Plaintiffs ought to undertake to speed the action, that is to prosecute the action with due diligence.
9.
†a. To treat of, deal with (a matter). Obs.
13..Cursor M. 224 (Gött.), For mani [matters] ar þar for to spede. c1374Chaucer Boeth. v. pr. i. (1868) 149 She hadde.. tournede þe cours of hir resoun to somme oþer þinges to ben tretid and to ben ysped. Ibid. pr. iv. 161 Ȝit ne haþ it nat ben determined ne yspedd..diligently of any of yow.
b. To bring to an end; to finish or dispatch.
c1340Hampole Pr. Consc. 2682 Here es þe thred parte of þis buke spedde. c1400Destr. Troy 7601 When this speche was sped, speke þai no fferre. 1470–85Malory Arthur iii. x. 111 Was there gras, otys, and breed for their horses; soone it was sped, and full hard was their souper. 1764Goldsm. Trav. 191 At night returning, every labour sped, He sits him down the monarch of a shed. 1825Scott Talism. xvii, Go, speed thine office quickly, sirrah.
c. To dispatch, destroy, kill (a person, etc.).
1594Plat Jewell-ho. iii. 74 They [rats] shall not be able to rise..before you haue sped them. 1605Play of Stucley in Simpson Sch. Shaks. (1878) I. 201 Braving braggart, since thou dost seek thy death, Look to thyself; I'll speed thee if I can. 1654Fuller Two Serm. 20 Thus no doubt Herod..was confident he..had sped and despatched the Iewish king amongst the rest. 1735Pope Prol. Sat. 31 A dire dilemma! either way I'm sped, If foes, they write, if friends, they read me dead. 1819Scott Ivanhoe xxx, But that I wore a shirt of Spanish mail under my plate-coat, I had been fairly sped. 1845Disraeli Sybil vi. xii. III. 310 ‘Yes. I am sped,’ he said in a faint voice.
II.
10. a. trans. To send with speed or haste; to hurry (a person, etc.) out or away; also, to force to go.
c1250Gen. & Ex. 3178 Egipte folc hem hauen ut sped. 1634Sir T. Herbert Trav. (1638) 106 Assaph-chan seeing all as he desired, speeds away a sure post with letters to Curroon. 1678Spanish Hist. II. 15 Eight Ships commanded by our Admiral were speeded out from Cadis. 1770Goldsm. Des. Vill. 309 If to the city sped—what waits him there? 1781Cowper Expost. 289 The cry in all thy ships is still the same—Speed us away to battle and to fame. 1845Sumner True Grandeur Nations (1846) 10 The twenty thousand letters, which each fortnight are speeded from this port alone, could not be sent. 1885Manch. Exam. 10 July 5/2 Every soul in that part of the mine would be sped into eternity.
b. To send out, cast, discharge, or direct, with some degree of quickness and force.
a1569A. Kingsmill Godly Adv. (1580) 13 His tong spedyng wordes no faster then thei may seme wel bestowed. 1791Cowper Iliad iii. 436, I sped my spear in vain. 1830Tennyson Poems 43 His last arrow is sped. 1842Macaulay Horatius xlv, Through teeth, and skull, and helmet So fierce a thrust he sped. 1891H. Herman His Angel xii. 236 The glance he sped towards his betrothed was brimful of expectant love.
†c. To recall hastily. Obs.—1
1606G. Woodcock Hist. Ivstine vi. 31 This their intent gaue matter of great mistrust vnto the Lacedemonians, causing them to speed home Agesilaus from his Persyan victories.
d. To enable (a person) to make speed in departing or travelling; to further the going or progress of; sometimes simply, to bid farewell to.
1725Pope Odyss. xv. 84 True friendship's laws are by this rule exprest, Welcome the coming, speed the parting guest. 1732― Hor. Sat. ii. ii. 160 For I, who hold sage Homer's rule the best, Welcome the coming, speed the going guest. 1829Scott Anne of G. xxvi, Assuring them, that..horses and faithful attendants should be ready to speed the youth on his journey to Nancy. 1849Rock Ch. of Fathers II. 388 Everywhere the brief-bearer was received, treated, and speeded on his way. 1894B. Chambers Butterfly 241 Next morning the host stood once more on the steps, speeding the parting Miss Scropes.
11. a. To give speed to (a course, etc.); to hasten; to cause to be rapid in movement.
a1300Cursor M. 19076 Up he ras, And to þe temple spede his pas. 1387Trevisa Higden (Rolls) III. 231 Þe cours was so i-sped þat the strokes come to-fore þe enemyes. 1577–87Holinshed Chron. I. 35/1 So through France [Claudius] sped his iournies till he came to the side of the Ocean sea. 1700Dryden Iliad i. 54 The helpless Priest reply'd no more, But sped his Steps along the hoarse-resounding Shore. 1746Francis tr. Horace, Art Poet. 215 To the grand Event he [the poet] speeds his Course. 1807J. Barlow Columb. iii. 16 The king, undaunted in defensive war, Repels their hordes, and speeds their flight afar. 1855F. Chamier My Travels I. vi. 88 There before us passed traveller after traveller, each speeding his way to the hotel. 1885Howells Silas Lapham (1891) I. 35 Let me..take you out over the Milldam, and speed this mare a little. I'd like to show you what this mare can do.
b. To press or urge on, esp. in order to bring to an early result or termination; to expedite.
1390Gower Conf. I. 180 The Souldan..In alle haste his cause spedde To sende for the mariage. 1463Bury Wills (Camden) 17 To spede the tyme for y⊇ sarmon. 1535Stewart Cron. Scot. II. 639 Now tarie nocht thairfoir; speid hand, haif done. 1696Ray in Lett. Lit. Men (Camden) 202, I think it best to speed the finishing and fitting my Supplement for the Presse. 1697Dryden Virg. Past. iv. 11 O chaste Lucina speed the Mother's pains, And haste the glorious Birth. 1815Scott Guy M. xxvii, One of those prayers, or rather spells,..used by the vulgar and ignorant to speed the passage of a parting spirit. 1870Bryant Iliad vi. I. 207 Command thy maids to speed the work.
c. To cause (time) to pass (away) quickly.
1818Scott Rob Roy xxi, The incident..sped away a part of the time which hung so heavily on my hand. 1851Hawthorne Snow Image, etc. (1879) 246 Then he strove to speed away the time.
d. To increase the speed or working rate of. In recent use chiefly with up. Also fig.
1856Kane Arct. Expl. I. xxvii. 353 Our plans were formed at once; there is nothing like emergency to speed, if not to instruct, the energies. 1894Westm. Gaz. 4 Sept. 7/1 What of machinery? Shall we get that ‘speeded up’ sufficiently to counterbalance the shorter working day? 1909C. F. G. Masterman Condition of England ii. 23 When life has become ‘speeded up’ to the motor-car level. 1931Times Lit. Suppl. 3 Dec. 979/3 He brought youth to the theatre; he speeded it up. 1974A. Lurie War between Tales xiv. 277 He has the sense of being slowed down and speeded up alternatively.
e. To give a specified speed to (a machine).
1881Eng. Mechanic No. 874. 376/3 My own 46 in. [wheels] are speeded down to 40 in. for level roads. 1889Engineer LXVIII. 458 When an engine is speeded to run 300 revolutions per minute. 1897Daily News 10 July 4/3 On similar automatic machines, speeded alike.
12. refl.
a. To go with speed; to make haste in passing from one place to another. Now arch.
a1300Cursor M. 10555 Ga to mete him, þou þe spede. c1350Will. Palerne 5169 Now..speke we of þe spaynols..hou þei sped hem to spayne. c1400Laud Troy Bk. 17817 Antenor him hamward spedde. c1450Merlin i. 21 So he spedde hym oute of the town till he com to a ryver. 1509Hawes Past. Pleas. xviii. (Percy Soc.) 77 Venus and she made conjuncyon. Frome the combust way she had her so sped. 1560J. Daus tr. Sleidane's Comm. 386 They both talking long and much with the Emperor alone, spede them on their journy. 1610Holland Camden's Brit. 374 Severne..with many windings and turnings in, and out, speedeth him unto the Ocean. 1678Bunyan Pilgr. i. (1862) 41 Christian suddenly started up and sped him on his way. 1821Scott Kenilw. ix, Dickie..bolted from the cottage, and sped him to the top of a neighbouring rising ground.
b. To act with speed; to make haste in doing, or to do, something. Now arch.
a1300Cursor M. 13538 Fra now behoues þe sun him spede For to do his fader dede. 1390Gower Conf. II. 256 And he with alle haste him spedde And made him naked and al warm. c1400Destr. Troy 13236 Þe worthy..sped hir full specially my sped for to let. 1447O. Bokenham Seyntys (Roxb.) 35 For to other thyngys I wold spede me. 1526Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W. 1531) 72 b, These thynges..we shall spede vs..to declare euery daye by it selfe. 1581A. Hall Iliad v. 86 Iris straight hir spedde To dresse them wel. 1647N. Bacon Disc. Govt. Eng. ii. xiii. (1739) 71 The Eagle stooped, and sped himself so well, as within six years he fastned upon the Sword and Scepter. 1682Bunyan Holy War (1905) 329 Then speed you to do that which is written in my Law. 1805Scott Last Minstr. ii. xxi, Now, speed thee what thou hast to do. 1828― F.M. Perth ii, Come, Dorothy, speed thee with the food, old woman.
13. intr.
a. To go or move with speed. Also with it.
c1400Destr. Troy 7733 The grete horses..Sparit for no Spurse, speddyn to the flight. c1470Henry Wallace iv. 775 ‘Speid fast,’ he said, ‘Wallace is lokit in’. 1500–20Dunbar Poems lxxiii. 11 Walk furth, pilgrame,..Speid home, forquhy anone cummis the nicht. 1562Winȝet Wks. (S.T.S.) I. 3 Sum..speidis baith with airis and erect salis [etc.]. 1610Holland Camden's Brit. 696 From Aberford the said Riveret Coc speedeth immediately to the River Wherf. 1637Heywood Royall King i. iii, I'le try to day which of our two good steeds Can speed it best; let the most swift take both. 1697Dryden Virg. Past. iv. 25 The Goats with strutting Dugs shall homeward speed. 1736Gray Statius i. 48 O'er his head, Collecting all his force, the circle sped. 1795Southey Joan of Arc ii. 128 From the disastrous plain of Agincourt I speeded homewards. 1835Lytton Rienzi i. i, The vessel thus referred to was speeding rapidly down the river. 1856Kane Arct. Expl. II. xxi. 211 The dogs speed from hut to hut, almost unguided by their drivers. 1860Tyndall Glac. i. vii. 51 Streams sped downwards, falling over the rocks.
fig.1588Shakes. L.L.L. ii. i. 120 Your wit's too hot, it speeds too fast, 'twill tire. 1869J. Martineau Ess. II. 49 We might..have lightly sped across the slippery logic. 1893Stevenson Catriona v. (1902) 51 His eyes speeding here and there without rest.
b. Of time: To advance or pass quickly.
13..Sir Beues (A.) 1475 Whan hit to þat time spedde, Þat Yuor scholde þat maide wedde. 1833H. Martineau Cinnamon & Pearls i. 1 The brief twilight of the tropics had just sped away. 1858Sears Athan. ii. iii. 195 The day speeds on to the great evening. 1891Farrar Darkn. & Dawn xxxv, The hours sped by almost unnoticed.
c. To make haste to do something; to be speedy in action.
a1400Pistill of Susan 103 Spyces speden to spryng, In Erbers enhaled. a1425Cursor M. 13538 (Trin.), Now bi⁓houeþ þe son to spede For to do his fadir dede. 1480Robt. Devyll 188 in Hazl. E.P.P. I. 226 [He] prayed hys sonne, that he woulde spede, For to learne bothe to wryte and reade. 1577Hanmer Acc. Eccl. Hist., Socrat. v. vi. (1619) 341 Being sore sicke, and speeding to baptisme. 1625Bacon Ess., Of Delays (Arb.) 525 First to Watch, and then to Speed.
d. With complement: To attain a speed of.
1900Westm. Gaz. 1 May 6/3 Her engines are twin-screw triple expansion,..and she will speed seventeen knots.
e. To drive a motor vehicle fast, esp. at an illegal speed; to break the speed limit in a motor vehicle.
1931Galsworthy Maid-in-Waiting xiii. 118 ‘I'm going to speed,’ said Jean, looking back. The speedometer rose rapidly. 1941M. Halsey Traffic Accidents & Congestion v. 41 The very word speed has come to mean speeding or going too fast. 1949R. A. Byrd Driving to Live xi. 156 It becomes ridiculous, in the light of this new discovery [sc. road-stare phenomenon], for any driver to brag about his ability to speed. 1954B. Preston Focus on Road Accidents ii. 63 If the motorist continued to speed and was caught, several times a day, every day, then he would soon stop speeding. 1969New Yorker 14 June 29/2 If you speed, we'll charge you the same amount we charge anyone. 1979D. Anthony Long Hard Cure viii. 72, I..went back to my car. I sped a little on the way back to town.
f. To be under the influence of an amphetamine drug. Also fig. Usu. as pres. pple. Cf. sense 7 of the n. slang.
1973R. Mills Young Outsiders ii. 60 If you are speeding you go out and do more things. 1977Rolling Stone 7 Apr. 47/1 ‘The best diet for the road,’ he says, ‘is soup for lunch and candy for supper. It keeps the weight off and you're speeding on all that sugar by show time.’ 1978S. George Screen Test ii. 18 ‘You speeding?’ He shrugged. ‘Yes. Cancels the alcohol.’ |