Middle English Dictionary Entry
spẹ̄dī adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | spẹ̄dī adj. Comp. spẹ̄dī̆er, -ī̆ǒur. |
| Etymology | From spẹ̄d(e n. & OE spēdig. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Beneficial, helpful; efficacious; (b) of an argument, a condition: profitable, valid; (c) of an image: perfect, exact; (d) unimpeded, easy; of a body of soldiers: unencumbered, able to move swiftly; (e) agile, nimble; (f) prompt; (g) as surname.
Associated quotations
a
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Heb.4.12 : The word of God is quyk and spedy in worching [L efficax].
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)23a/b : Efficax: spedy.
- ?c1430(c1400) Rule & T.St.Francis(1) (Corp-C 296)42 : Þei schulle see þat it is spedy to here nedy.
- ?a1450 Macer (Stockh Med.10.91)79 : If þou take liquorice þer-with and chewe to-gyder þer-with, his vertue is..þe spediour.
- ?c1450(?a1400) Wycl.Clergy HP (Lamb 551)382 : It is holsum, spedy, & plesaunt to god þat we sue hym.
- c1425(?c1400) Wycl.Apol.(Dub 245)50 : It semiþ good, spedi, and meritori þat þe kirk be honorid.
b
- (c1449) Pecock Repr.(Cmb Kk.4.26)220 : The ije condicioun..that he [an image] be deputid..forto represente and bringe into mynde the other thing..is a spedi condicioun and a myȝti forto helpe that a thing be a perfit and ful ymage of an othir thing.
- (c1454) Pecock Fol.(Roy 17.D.9)61/39 : If open euydence of treuþ be more in my side þan in her side, it is no spedi argument forto argue þus as þou hast arguyd, 'summe doctoures seien þe contrari to my seid doctrine; þerfore my doctrine is not trewe.'
c
- (c1449) Pecock Repr.(Cmb Kk.4.26)219 : That ech Cristen man is a perfiter and a fuller and a spedier ymage of Crist than is eny stok or stoon graued is vntrewe..Thre condiciouns muste be..that he be a perfit and a ful and a spedy ymage..of another thing.
d
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Rom.1.10 : I haue esy or spedy weie in the wille of God of comynge to ȝou.
- a1450(1408) *Vegetius(1) (Dc 291)60b : Aftir this schal be sette þe spediest part of footmen, & horsmen schulle folwe hem.
e
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Ecclus.9.4 : Be thou not customable with a daunseresse..lest perauenture thou perische in the spedi [WB(1): delyuere] werk of hir.
- a1425 Dial.Reason & A.(Cmb Ii.6.39)5/14 : Glorious to þe eyȝe is a long stature, but more swipper is þe schort, comynly & more spedi.
- a1500(?c1425) Spec.Sacer.(Add 36791)17/22 : They ben vncircumcised in here feet which haueþ spedy and swyfte feet vnto evel.
f
- (1459) Paston2.181 : I pray you..that ye wold see a spedye moyen and a sure for the recuuere of the iij c mark owyng and adiuged me.
g
- (1315) Pat.R.Edw.II318 : Robert Spedy.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- a1500 ?Scrope Ribot First Monks (Lamb 192)122/24 : The patryark Aymericus be spedy deth left hem noo fourme certeyn of instytucion.
Note: Ed.: "'spedy deth' that is, 'sudden death'.
Note: ?New sense, or modify sense (f) 'prompt'.