Expeditious
/ˌɛk.spəˈdɪʃ.əs/noun
Acting or done with speed and efficiency.
Did you know?It comes from Latin expedītus, originally meaning “unencumbered” or literally “having the feet free,” so speed was once imagined as a body unbound for action.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*ped-
“foot”
Latin
Latin
pedēs / pēs
“foot”
Latin
Latin
expedītus
“unfettered, unencumbered; literally “with the feet free””
Late Latin
Latin
expedītiō
“a freeing, preparation, military expedition”
Old French
Old French
expeditioun
“dispatch, prompt action; expedition”
Middle English
English
expedicious
“prompt, speedy”
Modern English
English
expeditious
“done with speed and efficiency”
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