speed

Etymology 1

From Middle English spede (“prosperity, good luck, quickness, success”), from Old English spēd (“success”), from Proto-West Germanic *spōdi (“prosperity, success”), from Proto-West Germanic *spōan, from Proto-Germanic *spōaną (“to prosper, succeed, be happy”), from Proto-Indo-European *speh₁- (“to prosper, turn out well”). Cognate with Scots spede, speid (“success, quickness, speed”), Dutch spoed (“haste; speed”), German Low German Spood (“haste; speed; eagerness; success”), German Sput (“progress, acceleration, haste”). Related also to Old English spōwan (“to be successful, succeed”), Albanian shpejt (“to speed, to hurry”) and Russian спеши́ть (spešítʹ, “to hurry”), Latin spēs (“hope, expectation”), spērō (“hope”, verb), perhaps also to Ancient Greek σπεύδω (speúdō, “to urge on, hasten, press on”).

noun

1. The state of moving quickly or the capacity for rapid motion.
   How does Usain Bolt run at that speed?
2. (mathematics, physics) The rate of motion or action, specifically the magnitude of the velocity; the rate distance is traversed in a given time.
   Speed limits provide information to the drivers about the safe speed to travel in average conditions.
3. (photography) The sensitivity to light of film, plates or sensor.
4. (photography) The duration of exposure, the time during which a camera shutter is open (shutter speed).
5. (photography) The largest size of the lens opening at which a lens can be used.
6. (photography) The ratio of the focal length to the diameter of a photographic objective.
7. (slang, uncountable) Amphetamine or any amphetamine-based drug (especially methamphetamine) used as a stimulant, especially illegally.
8. (archaic) Luck, success, prosperity.
9. (slang) Personal preference.
   We could go to the shore next week, or somewhere else if that's not your speed.
10. (finance, uncountable) A third-order measure of derivative price sensitivity, expressed as the rate of change of gamma with respect to changes in the underlying asset price.

intj

1. (film) Called by the soundman when the recording equipment has reached running speed and is ready to go.
   “Speed,” Carlos, the soundman, said. […] “Camera.” “Rolling,” replied Bryce, the cameraman. 2000, Brian J. Hayes, A Boy Scout in Hollywood, page 30
   […] the director called, “Roll 'em,” the sound man said, “Speed,” and Norling stepped in and said, […] 2012, Tom Mascaro, Into the Fray, page 52

Etymology 2

From Middle English speden, from Old English spēdan (“to speed, prosper, succeed, have success”), from Proto-West Germanic *spōdijan (“to succeed”). Cognate with Scots spede, speid (“to meet with success, assist, promote, accomplish, speed”), Dutch spoeden (“to hurry, rush”), Low German spoden, spöden (“to hasten, speed”), German sputen, spuden (“to speed”).

verb

1. (intransitive, archaic) To succeed; to prosper, be lucky.
   18ᵗʰc., Oliver Goldsmith, Introductory to Switzerland At night returning, every labor sped, / He sits him down the monarch of a shed: / Smiles by his cheerful fire, and round surveys, / His children’s looks, that brighten at the blaze;
2. (transitive, archaic) To help someone, to give them fortune; to aid or favour.
   God speed, until we meet again.
   with rising gales that sped their happy flight
3. (intransitive) To go fast.
   The Ferrari was speeding along the road.
   With a little manœuvring they contrived to meet on the doorstep which was […] in a boiling stream of passers-by, hurrying business people speeding past in a flurry of fumes and dust in the bright haze. 1963, Margery Allingham, chapter 10, in The China Governess
4. (intransitive) To exceed the speed limit.
   Why do you speed when the road is so icy?
5. (transitive) To increase the rate at which something occurs.
   It is possible that the uterine contractions speed the sperm along. 1982, Carole Offir, Carole Wade, Human sexuality,, Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, page 454
   Such interventions can help to speed the process of reducing CBRs and help countries pass through the demographic transition threshold more quickly[…]. 2004, James M. Cypher, James L. Dietz, The process of economic development, Routledge, page 359
6. (intransitive, slang) To be under the influence of stimulant drugs, especially amphetamines.
   Jackie is just speeding away / Thought she was James Dean for a day 1972, Lou Reed (lyrics and music), “Walk on the Wild Side”, in Transformer
   If Hector had not been speeding, it was possible that his next thought would have hurt: he loves his uncle unconditionally, in a way he will never love me. 2008, Christos Tsiolkas, The Slap, Allen and Unwin, page 46
7. (obsolete) To be expedient.
8. (archaic) To hurry to destruction; to put an end to; to ruin.
9. (archaic) To wish success or good fortune to, in any undertaking, especially in setting out upon a journey.
10. To cause to make haste; to dispatch with celerity; to drive at full speed; hence, to hasten; to hurry.
11. To hasten to a conclusion; to expedite.
    Judicial acts […] are sped in open court at the instance of one or both of the parties.