Speed
/spiːd/noun
The rate at which someone or something moves or operates.
Did you know?In Old English, *spēd* meant “prosperity, success, good fortune,” and the “fast movement” sense developed later from the idea of things going well or progressing quickly.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*speh₂-
“to succeed, thrive, prosper”
Old English
OE
spēd
“prosperity, success, good fortune”
Late Old English
OE
spēd
“swiftness, rapidity”
Middle English
ME
spede
“success; dispatch; swiftness”
Modern English
English
speed
“rapid movement or rate of motion”