rapidity

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“
And that idea is changing with a rapidity which is startling.

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Definitions (4)

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  1. The state or property of being rapid; celerity of motion or action; quickness of performance or execution; fast rate of progress or advance. Where the words are not monosyllables, we make them so by our rapidity of pronunciation. Addison. The undulations are present beyond the red and violet ends of the spectrum, for we have made them sensible through their actions on other reagents, and have measured their rapidities. G. H. Lewes, Probs. of Life and Mind, II. 208.
  2. Synonyms Speed, Swiftness, etc. (see quickness), haste, expedition, despatch.

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Examples (50)

  • He ascended with wonderful rapidity, and in about a minute he was almost at the top. —  Chatterbox, 1906
  • By means of powerful muscles this shell is made to open and shut with great rapidity, and thus the body of the little creature is quickly driven through the water in a series of spasmodic jumps. —  Chatterbox, 1906
  • It is true that cavalry cannot hide themselves over exposed ground as infantry can, but they have one advantage that nothing can deprive them of--rapidity of motion; and the distance that would take them say 10 seconds to traverse, viz., 150 yards, would take infantry a minute Prince Kraft writes: "No battle field is a tabula rasa_, for in the most exposed country there are depressions. —  Scientific American Supplement, No. 664, September 22,1888
  • Let us climb the rock and make a survey of the country Daylight came on with marvelous rapidity, and as the range of vision gradually became clear for a distance of several miles, the Greek rose to his feet and scanned the surroundings with a sweeping gaze His countenance expressed first perplexity, then delighted surprise, and turning to his companions he cried We have reached our destination. —  The River of Darkness, or, Under Africa
  • He was swaying to and fro with great rapidity, apparently trying to see how fast he could go, for he put a tremendous amount of vigor into his efforts. —  Four Young Explorers or, Sight-Seeing in the Tropics
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Roget's II: The New Thesaurus, Third Edition by the Editors of the American Heritage® Dictionary. Copyright © 2003, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Etymologies (1)

Toggle Century etymologies Century Dictionary (1)

  1. from French rapidité (cf. Spanish Portuguese rapidez) = It rapidità, from Latin rapidita (t-)s, rapidity, swiftness, from rapidus, rapid: see rapid.
 

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