Webster's English Dictionary

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speed

Cross references:
  1. haste                 
 
1. speed \'spe-d\ n [ME spede, fr. OE spe-d; akin to OHG spuot prosperity, 
   spe]ed, L spes hope, spatium space archaic  1: prosperity in an undertaking 
   : SUCCESS  2a: the act or state of moving swiftly : SWIFTNESS  2b: rate of 
   motion : VELOCITY  2c: MOMENTUM  3: swiftness or rate of performance or 
   action : QUICKNESS  4a: the sensitivity of a photographic film, plate, or 
   paper expressed numer ically according to one of several systems 4b: the 
   light gathering power of a lens or optical system expressed as rela tive 
   aperture 4c: the time during which a camera shutter is open  5: a 
   transmission gear in automotive vehicles {shift to low ~} 
2. speed \'sped\ \-st*r\ vb or sped or speed.ed;  or speed.ing 1a: to 
   prosper in an undertaking  1b: to get along : FARE  2a: to make haste  2b: 
   to go or drive at excessive or illegal speed  3: to move, work, or take 
   place faster : ACCELERATE {the heart (R@s up} archaic  1a: to cause or help 
   to prosper : AID  1b: to further the success of  2a: to cause to move 
   quickly : HASTEN  2b: to wish Godspeed to  2c: to increase the speed of : 
   ACCELERATE {~ed up th e engine} 3: to send out : DISCHARGE {~ an arrow}  - 
   speed.er n
3. speed aj : of or relating to speed