Swiftest

1 definition found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Swift \Swift\ (sw[i^]ft), a. [Compar. {Swifter}
     (sw[i^]ft"[~e]r); superl. {Swiftest}.] [AS. swift; akin to
     sw[=a]pan to sweep, swipu a whip; cf. sw[imac]fan to move
     quickly, to revolve. See {Swoop}, v. i., and cf. {Swivel},
     {Squib}.]
     1. Moving a great distance in a short time; moving with


        celerity or velocity; fleet; rapid; quick; speedy; prompt.
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              My beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear,
              slow to speak, slow to wrath.         --James i. 19.
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              Swift of dispatch and easy of access. --Dryden.
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              And bring upon themselves swift destruction. --2
                                                    Pet. ii. 1.
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     2. Of short continuance; passing away quickly. --Shak.
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     Note: Swift is often used in the formation of compounds which
           are generally self-explaining; as, swift-darting,
           swift-footed, swift-winged, etc.
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     Syn: Quick; fleet; speedy; rapid; expeditious.
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