Speedy Meaning
/ˈspiː.di/Definition, CEFR level B1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
adjProceeding with or characterized by high speed; rapid.
verbTo process in a faster than normal, accelerated way.
Sentence Examples
The doctor's careful examination of the patient brought about his speedy recovery.
The doctor's quick arrival brought about her very speedy recovery.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The ____ delivery service guarantees your package arrives in under an hour.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
We wish you a very ____ recovery after your recent operation and hope you feel better soon.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English spedy, spedi, from Old English spēdiġ (“having good speed, lucky, prosperous; having means, wealthy, opulent, rich in material wealth; rich in, abounding in, abundant, plenteous, copious; powerful”), from Proto-Germanic *spōdigaz (“successful, hurried”), equivalent to speed + -y. Cognate with Scots speedy (“speedy”), Dutch spoedig (“speedy, swift, rapid, quick”), German sputig, spudig (“industrious, speedy”).
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"" Without further parley, upon their knees they fell most devoutly, and for helpe on heaven never ceased extensively to intercessionate God, for his speedie recoverie."
— 1594, Thomas Nash, “The Terrors of the Night”, in Anecdotes of Literature and Scarce Books, volume I, published 1807, →OCLC, page 270:
"They turned out to be speedy machines and earned the sobriquet "Greyhounds", giving excellent performances on the Exeter run."
— 1951 November, David R. Webb, “The Drummond 4-4-0 Locomotives”, in Railway Magazine, page 774:
"After some quite speedy constructional work the line was opened to traffic on January 2, 1865."
— 1961 October, 'Voyageur', “The Cockermouth, Keswick & Penrith Railway”, in Trains Illustrated, page 598:
"“[…] the Treaty between the King and the Parliament may be speedied; and that Care may be taken, to prevent the casting of the Two Kingdoms into War and Blood.”"
— 1647, [uncredited], Journals of the House of Lords (House of Lords), volume 10, page 389:
"[…] for the purpose of proceeding to the immediate sale of the goods under seizure, with the view of speedying the exercise of their rights on the proceeds of the sale of the goods seized."
— 1871, The Mauritius Reports, page 46:
Explore More B1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The ____ delivery service guarantees your package arrives in under an hour.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
We wish you a very ____ recovery after your recent operation and hope you feel better soon.