Speedy

How to spell speedy

6 letters · 2 syllables

How to pronounce speedy

Say the part in capitals loudest.

What does speedy mean?

1. adjectiveDone or moving quickly; prompt and without delay.

Speedy in a sentence

• The courier promised a speedy delivery before the weekend.

• We wished her a speedy recovery after the operation.

Where does speedy come from?

Language of origin: Germanic

This word descends from the Old English noun 'sped', which originally meant success, prosperity, or good fortune rather than quickness; to do something with speed was to do it successfully. That noun came from a Germanic root linked to the idea of thriving and getting on well, and the same sense survives in the old blessing 'God speed', meaning may you prosper. Over the medieval period the meaning narrowed toward swiftness, since prospering and getting things done quickly often went hand in hand. The adjective 'speedy' was formed by adding the familiar '-y' suffix, meaning full of or marked by, so it simply means full of speed. The spelling stays regular: keep the double 'e' of speed and add a plain '-y', with no letters dropped.

How the word is built

• speed (root noun, swiftness)
• -y (adjective suffix, full of)