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Godspeed
Definitions
- 1 Used, especially at a parting, to express the wish that the outcome of a person's actions be positive for them; typically said to someone who is about to start a journey or a daring endeavour. literary
"3 [Citizen]. Neighbours, God ſpeed. / 1 [Citizen]. Giue you good morrovv ſir."
- 2 Alternative letter-case form of Godspeed. alt-of
"At the threshold of death, how dare I give you permission to go to England, to cross the seas? But I will not stand in your way. It is your mother's permission which really matters. If she permit you, then godspeed! Tell her I will not interfere. You will go with my blessings."
- 1 The wishing of someone a smooth journey, or success, especially at a parting; (countable) a statement expressing this. literary, uncountable
"Yff there come eny vnto you and brynge not this learnynge⸝ hym receave not to houſſe: nether bid hym god ſpede. For he that biddeth hym God ſpede⸝ is part taker off his evyll dedes."
- 2 Alternative letter-case form of Godspeed. alt-of, countable, uncountable
"Mr. C[harles] C[rozat] Converse's new pronoun [thon] of the singular number and common gender has met with a warm welcome from philologists and the press. […] The new word has received a number of godspeeds, some of which we quote."
- 3 a successful journey wordnet
- 4 Chiefly in in the Godspeed of: the most important part of something, or point at which something happens; also, the last minute or last moment. archaic, countable, figuratively, literary, uncountable
"But a Devil came in juſt in the God-ſpeed, and told them; Gentlemen Philoſophers, (ſays he) if you vvould knovv the VVretched'ſt, and moſt contemptible thing in the VVorld; It is an Alchymiſt: […]"
- 5 In back of Godspeed: a distant, remote, or unknown place. countable, figuratively, literary, uncountable
"If I don't leave you at the back of God-speed before long, I'll give you the mare and the horse too."
Etymology
Univerbation of God speed, elliptical for God speed you, where speed carries the archaic sense “help, further, cause to prosper”. Compare God bless, God damn.
Univerbation of God speed, elliptical for God speed you, where speed carries the archaic sense “help, further, cause to prosper”. Compare God bless, God damn.
See also for "godspeed"
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