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. t. 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. Also 3rd sing. pres. 3–4 spet, 5 spette. [OE. spédan (once; otherwise ʓespédan, 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 sb.]
I. 1. intr. Of persons: To succeed or prosper; to meet with success or good fortune; to attain one’s purpose or desire. Now arch.
993. Battle of Maldon, 34. Ne þurfe we us spillan, ʓif ʓe spedaþ to þam.
a. 1122. O. E. Chron. (Laud MS.), an. 656. Swa he spedde swa him Crist huðe, swa þet in feuna ʓeare was þet mynstre ʓare. Ibid. (1154), an. 1140. Eustace … wende to biʓæton Normandi þær þurh, oc he spedde litel.
c. 1200. Ormin, 12317. He … wollde winnenn Crist … All alls he wann Eve & Adam, Ȝiff þatt he mihhte spedenn.
c. 1275. Moral Ode, 258, in O. E. Misc. Ne his poure kunesmen at him ne myhte nouht spede.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 734. In his auen schap To sped he hopd haue na hap.
1362. Langl., P. Pl., A. III. 164. Menede hire to þe kyng To haue space to speken, spede ȝif heo mihte.
c. 1425. Brut, 363. So the King come to Engelond ayen, for lesyng of moo of his peple, and þus he spedde not þere.
1456. Sir G. Haye, Law Arms (S.T.S.), 13. Quhen he sawe that he mycht nocht in that maner spede.
1500–20. Dunbar, Poems, xiii. 24. Some speidis [at law], for he in court hes menis.
a. 1542. Wyatt, in Tottel’s Misc. (Arb.), 53. Soonest he spedes, that most can lye and fayn.
1647. N. 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.
a. 1688. Bunyan, 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.
1825. Scott, Betrothed, xxiii. Here we come near to the spot where we hope to speed, or no where.
1835. Browning, Paracelsus, III. 989. This he has done and nobly. Speed that may!
1836. J. Martin, Discourses, 367. It is a thing in which we are sure of speeding.
Prov. c. 1470. Golagros & Gaw., 879. Oft in romanis I reid: Airly sporne, late speid.
1593. R. 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.
c. 1400. Maundev. (Roxb.), xxxiii. 151. Many grete lordes has assayd diuerse tymes to passe;… bot þai myght noȝt spede of þaire iournee.
1530. Hickscorner (1905), 148. But there he could not speed of his prey.
1530. Palsgr., 727/1. And y maye spede of this ones, I care nat and I never sewe to him whyle I lyve.
1573. L. Lloyd, Marrow of Hist. (1653), 256. Untill she sped of the like chance that Procris did, she could never be quiet.
1600. J. Pory, trans. 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.
1643. Prynne, Sov. Power Parl., App. 26. But he sped little of his purpose.
2. With advs.: To succeed or fare well, ill, etc.
a. 1122. O. 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.
c. 1200. Ormin, 14242. Swa þatt teȝȝ mihhtenn spedenn wel To winnenn erþlic ahhte.
c. 1250. Gen. & Ex., 1585. And ðu salt ðe betre sped, If it beð bi ðin faderes red. Ibid., 3314. ‘Ille,’ he seiden, ‘haue we sped.’
c. 1330. R. Brunne, Chron. Wace (Rolls), 4279. Y trowe þou schalt fol euele spede.
1377. Langl., P. Pl., B. III. 270. Spille it and spare it nouȝte, þow shalt spede þe bettere.
a. 1425. trans. Arderne’s Treat. Fistula, etc. 75. I spedde effectuously with sich a clistre þat is þer made.
1483. Caxton, Gold. Leg., 113 b/1. He answerd that he had euyl spedde.
1573. Tusser, Husb. (1878), 44. But worse shall he speed, that soweth ill seed.
1577–87. Holinshed, Chron., I. 128/2. Some warres he had, and sped diuerslie.
a. 1628. Preston, New Covt. (1634), 86. When we pray best, we speed best.
1676. Hobbes, Iliad, II. 116. I wonder less that we no better speed.
1791. Cowper, Odyss., VII. 61. For boldest men Speed ever best.
b. With how (or however).
c. 1230. Hali Meid., 27. Hwase, of engel, lihteð to iwurðen lahere þen a beast,… loke hu ha spede!
c. 1290. S. Eng. Leg., I. 148. Heo tolden þe kinge al heore cas, hoy heo hadde i-sped.
a. 1300–1400. Cursor M., 17288 + 123. Þai … told vnto þer maisters how þat þai hade spedd.
c. 1450. Lovelich, Merlin, 9656. Merlyne hadde hym told … hou that they thanne spedden jn desert.
a. 1533. Ld. Berners, Huon, lxxxi. 247. He demaunded how I had sped in my iourney.
1563. B. Googe, Eglogs, etc. (Arb.), 114. I entred in, with fearefull Harte, muche doutyng howe to speede.
1617. Moryson, Itin., II. 109. Not caring how the messengers sped, so the letters were not understood.
1653. in Hatton Corr. (Camden), 9. However wee speed heere, 4 of our Est India shipps are taken by the Dutch.
1766. Goldsm., Vicar, x. Well, my girls, how have you sped?
1814. Southey, Roderick, XXV. 501. Go tell thy father now how thou hast sped With all thy treasons!
1852. Miss 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.
1649. Milton, Eikon., 15. In this Warr against the Church hee hath sped as other haughty Monarchs, whom God hath harden’d to the same enterprize.
1653. Holcroft, 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.
c. 1205. Lay., 18695. Þa iseh Vðer king Þat him ne spedde naðing. Ibid., 29508. Þu scalt … beode þer godes godd-spel; Þe scal spede ful wel.
1297. R. Glouc. (Rolls), 8163. Þe cristine were of þe sarazins an onywar biset, & vor þe sarazins were ywar, hom spedde wel þe bet.
a. 1325. Life Adam, 67, in Horstm., Altengl. Leg. (1878), 140. To Adam wende we, And loke we hou him spet Þat … He brak godes comandment.
1545. Brinklow, Compl., xxiv. (1874), 69. Comenly it spedeth vnhappyly to that reame, where thei be embassytors.
1610. Guillim, Heraldry, III. xii. 122. Though sometime it speed with them contrary to their Titles.
1854. Ferrier, Inst. Metaph., Introd. 8. As time has advanced, it has constantly sped worse with philosophy, instead of speeding better.
4. Of things: To prove successful; to thrive.
c. 1200. Ormin, 1765. Godess enngleþeod Ne maȝȝ nohht unnderrstanndenn Hu mikell Cristess bede maȝȝ Towarrd hiss faderr spedenn.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 28317. Oþer mans beginyng of gode dede Oft-sith i letted for to spede.
a. 1586. Sidney, Ps. XXXVII. iii. Lay all thy trusting On hym, and he will make it speed.
1626. W. Yonge, Diary (Camden), 93. Arminianism and Pelagianism do much speed abroad, in divers parts of this realm.
1713. Swift, Cadenus & Vanessa, Wks. 1755, III. II. 7. A project … which, if it sped, Wou’d shew the merits of the cause.
1866. Contemp. 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.
a. 1250. Owl & Night., 763. Oft spet wel a lute lyste, Þar muche strengþe … myste.
c. 1400. Gamelyn, 800. ‘I se wel,’ seyde Gamelyn, ‘the justice is sette; Go aforn, Adam, and loke how it spette.’
a. 1425. trans. Arderne’s Treat. Fistula, etc. 95. And so schal it better spede.
1449. in Cal. Proc. Chanc. Q. Eliz. (1830), II. Pref. lv. The xxvj li. levyng behynde shall be wele and truly paied … unto the forseid Thomas like as the forseid werkes spedyn.
1545. Brinklow, Lament., A iv b. The Cytie neuer speadeth so euell, as when they so ronne a whore hountinge.
1681. W. Robertson, Phraseol. Gen., s.v., This business speeds well under our hands.
1733. W. Ellis, Chiltern & Vale Farm., 79. The Acorn here may speed very well.
1781. Cowper, Conversat., 316. Relate how many weeks they kept their bed, How an emetic or cathartic sped.
1855. Prescott, Philip 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.
c. 1380. Wyclif, Serm., Sel. Wks. II. 109. It spediþ to ȝou þat o man die for þe puple. Ibid. (1382), Ecclus. xxxvii. 31. Forsothe not alle thingus to alle speden.
1423. James I., Kingis Q., xxviii. Ane wofull wrecche that to no wight may spede.
a. 1425. trans. Arderne’s Treat. Fistula, etc. 3. For-als-miche in hard thingis it spedith to studiers for to perseuere and abide.
6. trans. To further or assist (a person); to cause to succeed or prosper. Also refl. Now arch.
a. 1240. Sawles 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.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 29002. Seuen ar þai [sc. boons] þat vs mai spede Til al þat euer we haue of nede.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Reeve’s T., 113. I prey you speed us in al that ye may.
c. 1430. Syr Tryam., 1196. Y tryste in God that he schalle me spede.
1503–4. Act 19 Hen. VII., c. 28. Preamb., The Kinges Highnes … is therfor enclyned to here & spede resonably the seid peticioners.
1530. Palsgr., 727/1. Serve God well and he shall spede you in all your busynes.
1601. Shaks., 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.
1819. Scott, 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) c. 1320. Sir Tristr., 2266. He may bidde god me spede.
1375. Barbour, Bruce, XVIII. 389. ‘Do than,’ he said, ‘and god the speid!’
c. 1386. Chaucer, Knt.’s T., 1700. God spede you; goth forth and ley on faste.
c. 1400. Gamelyn, 827. God spede me this day at my newe werk.
c. 1470. Henry, Wallace, II. 93. Go hens,… the mekill dewill the speid.
1526. Tindale, Matt. xxviii. 9. Iesus mett them sayinge: God spede you.
1553. T. Wilson, Rhet. (1580), 4. As for other that haue no witte, thei wil neuer learne it, therefore God speede them.
1617. in Birch, Crt. & Times Jas. I. (1848), II. 17. God speed him, and send him a better voyage than I even hope for!
1641. Milton, 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.
1677. Miége, Fr. Dict., II. s.v., God speed you well.
1819. Scott, Ivanhoe, xxxii. Rowena waved a graceful adieu to him…—the Saxon bade God speed him.
1866–. in Sc. use (Eng. Dial. Dict.).
absol. c. 1586. C’tess Pembroke, Ps. CXXIX. v. God speed, friendes, God give you joy.
1594. Shaks., Rich. III., II. iii. 6. 3 Cit. Neighbours, God speed.
1602. [see b].
(b) c. 1500. Spede the Plough, 8. I pray to God, spede wele the plough.
1569. T. Norton, Warning agst. Papists, O iv. Let vs draw … together, and then say and sing merily, God spede the ploughe of England.
1589. Horsey, Trav. (Hakl. Soc.), App. 310. Thearby have they mayntayned their decayed trade … by meanes of their traffycque. God speed their plowe!
1602. Dekker, Honest Wh., xii. Duke. God speed, father. Mad. God speed the Plow, thou shalt not speed me.
1610. Fletcher, Faithf. Sheph., II. i. Great Pan for Syrinx sake bid speed our Plow.
1781. Cowper, Charity, 123. Heav’n speed the canvass, gallantly unfurl’d [etc.].
† c. In the adjuration So God me speed, etc. Obs.
c. 1320. Sir Tristr., 1631. Þe king swore, so god him spede, Þat boþen schuld haue riȝt.
1393. Langl., P. Pl., C. XI. 107. ‘Ȝut sauereþ me nat þi sawe,’ quaþ ich, ‘so me crist spede.’
c. 1440. [see SO adv. 19].
c. 1460. Towneley 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.
1530. Tindale, Answ. Sir T. More, Wks. (1573), 249/2. We beleue, we deserue to be sped of all that our blynd hartes desire.
1554. Interlude of Youth, in Hazl., Dodsley, II. 17. I can speed thee of a servant of price, That will do thee good service.
1576. Pettie, Petite Pallace, 36. She … began to cast in her head how she myght be sped of an other husband.
1600. Holland, Livy, III. xlvi. 119. For this time I am sped of sureties ynough. Ibid. (1601), Pliny, I. 144. There also a man may be sped with bondslaues.
1665. Brathwait, Comment Two Tales (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.
1390. Gower, Conf., I. 94. Er thou be sped, Thou schalt me leve such a wedd, That [etc.].
c. 1420. Lydg., Lond. Lyckpeny, v. But, lackyng mony, I could not be sped.
c. 1450. Reg. Oseney, 111. If hit happe my wife to be i-spedde in child-beryng at Barton.
1566. Pasquine in a Traunce, 35. For the moste part, she that went to bed a Virgin, arose from thence spedde with hir errande.
1571. Campion, Hist. Irel., vi. (1633), 17–8. And then if they can get a piece of rugge to cover them, they are well sped.
1657. W. Rand, trans. Gassendi’s Life Peiresc, I. 110. [He] went on purpose into Dauphine; and returned sped, about the beginning of the year following, which was 1607.
1680. H. More, Apocal. Apoc., 208. But they that have obtained their glorified body,… they are sped already, and are safe from this fate.
1713. Guardian, No. 100 (1756), II. 78. When the maid was once sped, she was not suffered to tantalize the male part of the commonwealth.
1864. Swinburne, 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.
c. 1530. Remedy 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.
1596. Shaks., Tam. Shr., V. ii. 185. We three are married, but you two are sped.
1601. Holland, Pliny, II. 49. Like as those that be sped with the yellow jaunise.
1616. Marlowe’s Faustus, in M.’s Wks. (1910), 217. Benu. ’Zons, hornes againe. Mart. Nay chafe not man, we all are sped.
1709. Prior, Ladle, 92. Told ’em, for Supper or for Bed They might go on, and be worse sped.
1821. Scott, Kenilw., v. ‘We are fairly sped now,’ said Foster; ‘yonder is thy lord’s signal.’
c. Appointed or elected to (or as) something. rare.
c. 1380. Wyclif, Wks. (1880), 23. For who so may most gold brynge sunnest schal be sped to grete benefices.
1691. Wood, Ath. Oxon., II. 18. His father got him to be sped a Kings-scholar at Westminster.
1903. in Farmer & Henley, Slang Dict., VI. 307. Sped to New College = elected to a scholarship.
† d. Prepared, equipped; skilled or versed in something. Obs.
a. 1450. trans. De Imitatione, III. xxi. 89. Wherfore be þou spedde & redy to fiȝtyng, if þou wolt haue þe victory.
1526. Skelton, Magnyf., 562. Can you a remedy for a tysyke, That sheweth yourselfe thus spedde in physyke? Ibid. (a. 1529), P. Sparowe, 788. In Chauser I am sped, His tales I haue red.
8. To promote or further (a matter); to bring to or towards a successful issue or termination; to accomplish or carry out.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 23920. Mi will ic hope þou will me spede.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Sec. Nun’s T., 357. Every maner boone That he God asked, it were sped ful soone.
1390. Gower, Conf., I. 162. Thei kepte that non other scholde Touchende of love his cause spede.
a. 1425. trans. Arderne’s Treat. Fistula, etc. 36. Þan, forsoþe, may he … finaly spede þe forseid cure aboute four & tuenty wekes.
c. 1450. Merlin, v. 87. And ye haue also wele spedde the entente of Merlin.
1526. Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 168. This holy prayer for his ennemyes anone was spedde,… for it conuerted saynt Paule.
1568. Grafton, Chron., II. 8. The next yere when King William had sped his businesse in the sayde Countrie, he returned into England.
1633. G. Herbert, Temple, Cross, iv. Ev’n when my hopes seem to be sped, I am to grief alive.
1697. Dryden, 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.
1771. Mrs. 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.
1833. Mrs. Browning, Prometh. Bound, Wks. (1904), 150/1. May no sin be sped in the word that is said.
1847. Emerson, Poems (1856), 49. 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.
1429. Rolls of Parlt., IV. 343/2. No Bill shal be sped but in the place ordeyned.
1482. in Rymer Fœdera (1711), XII. 164/2. In passyng and spedyng Letters of Transsumpt under the Seale of our Office of Mairaltie.
1566. Reg. Privy Council Scot., I. 466. Nocht to compone nor speid ony confirmatioun upoun the few abonewrittin.
1591. Lambarde, Archeion (1635), 143. No Bill be sped, but in place ordained for Councell.
1641. Termes 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.
1726. Ayliffe, Parergon, 27. All those Writings and Matters, which … are sped in open Court at the Instance of one or both of the Parties Litigant.
1884. Law 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.
c. 1374. Chaucer, 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.
c. 1340. Hampole, Pr. Consc., 2682. Here es þe thred parte of þis buke spedde.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 7601. When this speche was sped, speke þai no fferre.
1470–85. Malory, Arthur, III. x. 111. Was there gras, otys, and breed for their horses; soone it was sped, and full hard was their souper.
1764. Goldsm., Trav., 191. At night returning, every labour sped, He sits him down the monarch of a shed.
1825. Scott, Talism., xvii. Go, speed thine office quickly, sirrah.
c. To dispatch, destroy, kill (a person, etc.).
1594. Plat, Jewell-ho., III. 74. They [rats] shall not be able to rise … before you haue sped them.
1605. Play 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.
1654. Fuller, Two Serm., 20. Thus no doubt Herod … was confident he … had sped and dispatcht the Jewish King amongst the rest.
1735. Pope, Prol. Sat., 31. A dire dilemma! either way I’m sped, If foes, they write, if friends, they read me dead.
1819. Scott, Ivanhoe, xxx. But that I wore a shirt of Spanish mail under my plate-coat, I had been fairly sped.
1845. Disraeli, Sybil, VI. xii. III. 310. ‘Yes. I am sped,’ he said in a faint voice.
II. 10. trans. To send with speed or haste; to hurry (a person, etc.) out or away; also, to force to go.
c. 1250. Gen. & Ex., 3178. Egipte folc hem hauen ut sped.
1634. Sir T. Herbert, Trav. (1638), 106. Assaph-chan seeing all as he desired, speeds away a sure post with letters to Curroon.
1678. Spanish Hist., II. 15. Eight Ships commanded by our Admiral were speeded out from Cadis.
1770. Goldsm., Des. Vill., 309. If to the city sped—what waits him there?
1781. Cowper, Expost., 289. The cry in all thy ships is still the same—Speed us away to battle and to fame.
1845. Sumner, True Grandeur Nations (1846), 14. The twenty thousand letters, which each fortnight are speeded, from this port alone, across the sea, could no longer be sent.
1885. Manch. 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.
a. 1569. Kingesmyll, Godly Adv. (1580), 13. His tong spedyng wordes no faster then thei may seme wel bestowed.
1791. Cowper, Iliad, III. 436. I sped my spear in vain.
1830. Tennyson, Poems, 43. His last arrow is sped.
1842. Macaulay, Horatius, xlv. Through teeth, and skull, and helmet So fierce a thrust he sped.
1891. H. Herman, His Angel, xii. 236. The glance he sped towards his betrothed was brimful of expectant love.
† c. To recall hastily. Obs.–1
1606. G. W[oodcocke], 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.
1725. Pope, Odyss., XV. 84. True friendship’s laws are by this rule exprest, Welcome the coming, speed the parting guest. Ibid. (1732), Hor. Sat., II. ii. 160. For I, who hold sage Homer’s rule the best, Welcome the coming, speed the going guest.
1829. Scott, Anne of G., xxvi. Assuring them, that … horses and faithful attendants should be ready to speed the youth on his journey to Nancy.
1849. Rock, Ch. of Fathers, II. 388. Everywhere the brief-bearer was received, treated, and speeded on his way.
1894. B. Chambers, Butterfly, 241. Next morning the host stood once more on the steps, speeding the parting Miss Scropes.
11. To give speed to (a course, etc.); to hasten; to cause to be rapid in movement.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 19076. Up he ras, And to þe temple spede his pas.
1387. Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), III. 231. Þe cours was so i-sped þat the strokes come to-fore þe enemyes.
1577–87. Holinshed, Chron., I. 35/1. So through France [Claudius] sped his iournies till he came to the side of the Ocean sea.
1700. Dryden, Iliad, I. 54. The helpless Priest reply’d no more, But sped his Steps along the hoarse-resounding Shore.
1746. Francis, trans. Horace, Art Poet., 215. To the grand Event he [the poet] speeds his Course.
1807. J. Barlow, Columb., III. 16. The king, undaunted in defensive war, Repels their hordes, and speeds their flight afar.
1855. Chamier, My Travels, I. vi. 88. There before us passed traveller after traveller, each speeding his way to the hotel.
1885. Howells, 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.
1390. Gower, Conf., I. 180. The Souldan … in alle haste his cause spedde To sende for the mariage.
1463. Bury Wills (Camden), 17. To spede the tyme for ye sarmon.
1535. Stewart, Cron. Scot., II. 639. Now tarie nocht thairfoir; speid hand, haif done.
1696. Ray, in Lett. Lit. Men (Camden), 202. I think it best to speed the finishing and fitting my Supplement for the Presse.
1697. Dryden, Virg. Past., IV. 11. O chaste Lucina speed the Mother’s pains, And haste the glorious Birth.
1815. Scott, Guy M., xxvii. One of those prayers, or rather spells,… used by the vulgar and ignorant to speed the passage of a parting spirit.
1870. Bryant, Iliad, VI. I. 207. Command thy maids to speed the work.
c. To cause (time) to pass (away) quickly.
1818. Scott, Rob Roy, xxi. The incident … sped away a part of the time which hung so heavily on my hand.
1851. Hawthorne, 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.
1856. Kane, Arct. Expl., I. xxvii. 353. Our plans were formed at once; there is nothing like emergency to speed, if not to instruct, the energies.
1894. Westm. Gaz., 4 Sept., 7/1. What of machinery? Shall we get that ‘speeded up’ sufficiently to counterbalance the shorter working day?
e. To give a specified speed to (a machine).
1881. Eng. Mechanic, No. 874. 376/3. My own 46 in. [wheels] are speeded down to 40 in. for level roads.
1889. Engineer, LXVIII. 458. When an engine is speeded to run 300 revolutions per minute.
1897. J. Keith, in Daily 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.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 10555. Ga to mete him, þou þe spede.
c. 1350. Will. Palerne, 5169. Now … speke we of þe spaynols … hou þei sped hem to spayne.
c. 1400. Laud Troy Bk., 17817. Antenor him hamward spedde.
c. 1450. Merlin, i. 21. So he spedde hym oute of the town till he com to a ryver.
1509. Hawes, Past. Pleas., XVIII. (Percy Soc.), 77. Venus and she made conjuncyon. Frome the combust way she had her so sped.
1560. Daus, trans. Sleidane’s Comm., 386. They both talking long and much with the Emperor alone, spede them on their journy.
1610. Holland, Camden’s Brit., 374. Severne … with many windings and turnings in, and out, speedeth him unto the Ocean.
1678. Bunyan, Pilgr., I. (1862), 41. Christian suddenly started up and sped him on his way.
1821. Scott, 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.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 13538. Fra now behoues þe sun him spede For to do his fader dede.
1390. Gower, Conf., II. 256. And he with alle haste him spedde And made him naked and al warm.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 13236. Þe worthy … sped hir full specially my sped for to let.
1447. Bokenham, Seyntys (Roxb.), 35. For to other thyngys I wold spede me.
1526. Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 72 b. These thynges … we shall spede vs … to declare euery daye by it selfe.
1581. A. Hall, Iliad, V. 86. Iris straight hir spedde To dresse them wel.
1647. N. 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.
1682. Bunyan, Holy War (1905), 329. Then speed you to do that which is written in my Law.
1805. Scott, Last Minstrel, II. xxi. Now, speed thee what thou hast to do. Ibid. (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.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 7733. The grete horses … Sparit for no Spurse, speddyn to the flight.
c. 1470. Henry, Wallace, IV. 775. ‘Speid fast,’ he said, ‘Wallace is lokit in.’
1500–20. Dunbar, Poems, lxxiii. 11. Walk furth, pilgrame,… Speid home, forquhy anone cummis the nicht.
1562. Winȝet, Wks. (S.T.S.), I. 3. Sum … speidis baith with airis and erect salis [etc.].
1670. Holland, Camden’s Brit., 696. From Aberford the said Riveret Coc speedeth immediately to the River Wherf.
1637. Heywood, 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.
1697. Dryden, Virg. Past., IV. 25. The Goats with strutting Dugs shall homeward speed.
1736. Gray, Statius, I. 48. O’er his head, Collecting all his force, the circle sped.
1795. Southey, Joan of Arc, II. 128. From the disastrous plain of Agincourt I speeded homewards.
1835. Lytton, Rienzi, I. i. The vessel thus referred to was speeding rapidly down the river.
1856. Kane, Arct. Expl., II. xxi. 211. The dogs speed from hot to hut, almost unguided by their drivers.
1860. Tyndall, Glac., I. vii. 51. Streams sped downwards, falling over the rocks.
fig. 1588. Shaks., L. L. L., II. i. 120. Your wit’s too hot, it speeds too fast, ’twill tire.
1869. J. Martineau, Ess., II. 49. We might … have lightly sped across the slippery logic.
1893. Stevenson, 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.
1833. Ht. Martineau, Cinnamon & Pearls, i. 1. The brief twilight of the tropics had just sped away.
1858. Sears, Athan., II. iii. 195. The day speeds on to the great evening.
1891. Farrar, Darkn. & Dawn, xxxv. The hours sped by almost unnoticed.
c. To make haste to do something; to be speedy in action.
a. 1400. Pistill of Susan, 103. Spyces speden to spryng, In Erbers enhaled.
c. 1425. Cursor M., 13538 (Trin.). Now bi-houeþ þe son to spede For to do his fadir dede.
1480. Robt. 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.
1577. Hanmer, Anc. Eccl. Hist., Socrat., V. vi. (1619), 341. Being sore sicke, and speeding to baptisme.
1625. Bacon, Ess., Of Delays (Arb.), 525. First to Watch, and then to Speed.
d. With complement: To attain a speed of.
1900. Westm. Gaz., 1 May, 6/3. Her engines are twin-screw triple expansion,… and she will speed seventeen knots.
