speedily
Meaning
in a fast or rapid manner; quickly.
Structure
Usage
the company responded speedily to the customer's complaint.
she packed her bags speedily when she heard the emergency alert.
the repairs were completed speedily, minimizing the disruption.
Etymology
the word 'speedily' is a modern english formation built upon the noun 'speed'. the old english root 'spēd' originally meant 'success, prosperity, or power', a sense preserved in the phrase 'god speed'. this semantic core of 'favorable progress' evolved in middle english to denote the rate of progress, specifically 'rapidity of motion'. the adverbial suffix '-ly', from old english '-līce', is attached to adjectives to form adverbs meaning 'in a manner characterized by'. thus, 'speedily' literally means 'in a speedy manner', directly linking the concept of rapid motion back to the ancient idea of successful, unimpeded progress.
Analysis
- speed: from old english 'spēd' (success, prosperity, power), later shifting to 'rapidity of motion'. germanic origin. - ily: a common english adverbial suffix, a variant of '-ly', from old english '-līce', meaning 'having the qualities of'.