good speed
Historical/LowArchaic/Literary
Definition
Meaning
An archaic expression wishing someone success, prosperity, or a favourable journey.
A historical farewell phrase conveying goodwill and hope for someone's venture or undertaking.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
A compound noun phrase originating from Middle English 'god spede', where 'good' originally meant 'God' and 'speed' meant 'success'. It is now primarily found in historical texts or used self-consciously to evoke an antique tone.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in modern usage; both dialects treat it as an archaism. It may appear slightly more often in British historical or period literature.
Connotations
Etymology from 'God spede' (God prosper you) gives it a historical, formal, or pious tone.
Frequency
Extremely rare in contemporary speech. Its use is largely confined to historical reenactment, fantasy genres, or ironic/poetic usage.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[SUBJECT] bid/bade [INDIRECT OBJECT] good speed."Good speed," [SAYER] said.Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Bid someone good speed (archaic).”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used only when quoting or analyzing historical texts.
Everyday
Virtually never used; would be perceived as eccentric or humorous.
Technical
Not used.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The king bade the knights good speed on their quest.
American English
- He wished them good speed as they departed for the frontier.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The old book said 'good speed' to the traveller.
- In the film, the queen said, 'I bid you good speed, brave warrior.'
- Although 'good speed' is now archaic, its descendant 'godspeed' is still used in formal well-wishing.
- The playwright employed the archaism 'good speed' to lend the dialogue an air of medieval authenticity.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a knight in a history book: 'GOOD SPeeD' to your horse means 'GOOD SPeed' on your journey.
Conceptual Metaphor
JOURNEY IS SUCCESS ('speed' metaphorically representing successful progress).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not translate literally as 'хорошая скорость'. The modern equivalent is 'счастливого пути' or 'удачи'.
- The word 'speed' here is not about velocity, but about thriving or prospering.
Common Mistakes
- Writing as one word 'goodspeed' (the standard modern variant is 'godspeed').
- Using it in modern, casual contexts where 'good luck' or 'take care' would be appropriate.
Practice
Quiz
In which context would the phrase 'good speed' be MOST appropriately used today?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, 'godspeed' is the modern, contracted spelling of the same historical phrase 'good speed' (from 'God spede').
No, it would sound very archaic and strange. Use 'good luck,' 'take care,' or 'safe travels' instead.
It functions as an interjection (exclamation) or a noun phrase (as the object of a verb like 'bid' or 'wish').
No. In this archaic context, 'speed' derives from Old English 'spēd', meaning 'success, prosperity, good fortune'.