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.

Structure: speed (fast) + ily (adverb suffix) - 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'.