Obs. Also 5 -dyte, 7 -dit. [ad. L. expedīt-us, pa. pple. of expedīre: see next.]
1. Of a place, road, way: Clear of obstacles or impediments, unimpeded; free from difficulties.
1581. Styward, Mart. Discipl., II. 118. Descending from high and hillie places … to places expedite and open.
1581. Savile, Tacitus’ Agricola (1612), 197. All things to follow in an easie and expedite course, if you winne.
a. 1677. Barrow, Serm. (1686), III. xix. 216. To the one the way is rough and thorny, to the other beaten and expedite.
a. 1694. Tillotson, Serm., xi. (1743), I. 260. It being so short and expedite a way for the ending of controversies.
fig. 1654. Jer. Taylor, Real Pres., 174. Is there in the world any thing more certain and expedite then that what you see … should be judged to be that which you see.
b. Of an action or motion: Unrestricted, unembarrassed; easy, free.
1578. Banister, Hist. Man, II. 40. The expedite mouyng of the armes procured thereby.
1677. R. Cary, Chronol., II. II. I. ii. 190. The Exposition of that place being to me easie, expedite, and literal.
1691. Ray, Creation, II. (1704), 327. The Provision that is made for the easie and expedite Motion of them [the bones].
2. Of soldiers, etc. (after L. use): Lightly equipped, prepared for moving quickly.
1609. Holland, Amm. Marcell., XXI. ii. 169. The most expedite and lightest appointed companies of his auxiliarie forces.
1622. Bacon, Hen. VII., 182. Hee sent the Lord Chamberlain,… with expedite Forces to speed to Excester.
1628. Hobbes, Thucyd., 138. Eleuen dayes iourney for an expedite Footman.
1737. Whiston, Josephus’ Antiq., Dissert. III. xi. With them cohorts that were expedite and nimble.
1792. Burke, Pres. State Affairs, Wks. 1842, I. 584. To support the expedite body in case of misadventure.
b. Unencumbered, free to move, active, nimble.
1612. T. Taylor, Comm. Titus i. 6. The Iewes … tuck up their long garments to make them more expedite and free to a journey or busines.
1748. Hartley, Observ. Man, I. i. § 2. 84. Death may … render us more expedite in the Pursuit of our true End.
1794. Burke, Petit. Unit., Wks. 1842, II. 478. A smaller number more expedite, awakened … courageous.
3. a. Of persons: Ready for action; prompt, alert, ready.
1603. Bp. Barlow, Conf. Hampton Crt., in Phenix, I. 148. The king … in points of Divinity shewed himself so expedite and perfect.
1641. ‘Smectymnuus,’ Answ., xii. (1653), 47. The Arians were very expedite in worldly affaires.
1692. South, Serm. (1697), I. 59. His faculties were quick and expedite.
b. Of contrivances, instruments, etc.: Ready for immediate use, conveniently serviceable, handy.
1609. Holland, Amm. Marcell., XVII. iv. 84. Now adaies a certaine set and expedite number of letters … declareth whatsoever mans mind is able to conceive.
1638. Chillingw., Relig. Prot., I. Pref. § 11. If she once had this power unquestion’d and made expedite and ready for use.
1662. Stillingfl., Orig. Sacr., I. vi. § 8. The square letters are less operose, more expedite and facile.
1702. C. Mather, Magn. Chr., III. II. xv. (1852), 429. Several other contrivances made the whole more expedite for the use of them that consulted it.
1792. W. Roberts, Looker-on (1794), I. 115. Their dress … he wishes to be rendered as expedite as possible.
4. Of an action or process, a means, remedy, etc.: Prompt, speedy, expeditious.
1545. Raynold, Byrth Mankynde (1564), 56. Tokens of an expedite and easye deliuerance.
1609. Holland, Amm. Marcell., XXXI. xvii. 431. Remarkable above the rest, was the profitable and expedite service of Julius.
1635. Brathwait, Arcad. Pr., 142. A distemper … requisite to have the expeditest cure.
1664. Evelyn, Pomona, Advts. (1729), 81. The vast Store of Cherries … and their expedite Growth.
a. 1734. North, Exam., III. viii. § 13. This [the writ de nomine replegiando] … is … more effectual and expedite than an Habeas Corpus. Ibid., Lives, II. 392. A wrong determination, expedite, is better than a right one, after ten years vexation.
Hence † Expeditely adv., † Expediteness.
1560. Becon, Jewel of Joy, Wks. (Parker Soc.), II. 418. I fear lest my servant doeth not his message expeditely.
1681. Grew, Musæum, I. 19. Nature … left his … Ears [naked], that he may turn them more expeditely for the reception of sounds from every quarter.
1623. in Rushw., Hist. Coll. (1659), I. 134. With what alacrity, with what expediteness and uniformity of heart.
1635. Brathwait, Arcad. Pr., II. 89. The expeditenesse of his cure expressed the infinitenesse of his care.
1684. H. More, Answ. Remarks Exp. Apocal., etc. 240. The readiness and expediteness of their Ministry.
