swiftly, adv.
(ˈswɪftlɪ)
Forms: see swift a. and -ly2; also 4 swiflich, superl. swifliest, 5 swyfliche.
[f. swift a. + -ly2.]
In a swift manner; with swift movement or action.
1. With great speed or velocity; at a great rate; = quickly 2 a.
| c 1000 ælfric Hom. I. 580 Zacheus ða swyftlice of ðam treowe alihte. c 1000 Lambeth Ps. vi. 11 Uelociter, hredlice vel swiftlice. a 1023 Wulfstan Hom. xlii. (1883) 200 Heora fyðera sweᵹað swa swa wæteres dyne..hi fleoð swiftlice. a 1325 Prose Psalter xliv. 2 [xlv. 1] My tunge is penne of þe scriuayn swiflich wrytand. c 1350 Will. Palerne 3454 Wel was him in þe world þat swifliest miȝt hiȝe. c 1385 Chaucer L.G.W. Prol. 200 Home to myn house ful swiftly I me sped. 1447 O. Bokenham Seyntys (Roxb.) 20 They rent hyr flesh..So dispetously that than a ryver Hyr blood to grounde swyftlyere dede glyde. 1593 Shakes. 3 Hen. VI, ii. i. 109 Tydings, as swiftly as the Postes could runne, Were brought me of your Losse. 1647 H. More Poems Notes 399 Ethereall matter floweth swiftlier in those places. 1735 Berkeley Querist §22 Whether..less money, swiftly circulating, be not, in effect, equivalent to more money slowly circulating? 1798 Coleridge Anc. Mar. vi. xiii, Swiftly, swiftly flew the ship. 1877 A. Brassey Voy. Sunbeam xv. (1878) 255 The currents run very swiftly between these islands. 1907 J. H. Patterson Man-Eaters of Tsavo i. 17 A swiftly-flowing stream. |
b. transf. Steeply.
| 1893 Stevenson Catriona i. 4 The narrow paved way descended swiftly. |
† c. swiftly horsed, swiftly mounted, mounted on a swift horse. Obs. rare.
| c 1611 Chapman Iliad iv. 246 His swiftly mounted Greekes. 1654–66 Earl of Orrery Parthen. (1676) 37, I should commit you to the charge of some Gentleman, swiftly Hors'd. |
2. Within a short space of time; = quickly 2 b. Obs. or merged in sense 1.
| a 1300 Cursor M. 341 (Cott.) All his comament was don, Suiftliker þen hee may wink. c 1430 How Good Wife taught Dau. 89 Þouȝ ony man speke to þee, Swiftli þou him grete. c 1440 York Myst. xxix. 144 Swiftely he swapped of my nere. 1817 Shelley Rev. Islam vi. xi. 4 Those slaves were swiftly overthrown. 1837 Carlyle Fr. Rev. iii. vii. v, A swiftly-appointed, swift Military Tribunal. |
3. Without delay; after a very short, or no, interval of time; = quickly 2 c.
| c 1000 ælfric Hom. I. 452 Þa ferde his gast swyftlice. a 1225 Leg. Kath. 690 Wittie wordes, þe schulen þe flit of þine fan swiftliche afellen. 1340 Ayenb. 140 Þe ournemens of boȝamnesse byeþ zeuen. Þet ys, þet me bouȝe prestliche, gledliche, simpleliche, klenliche, generalliche, zuyftliche, and wiluolliche. a 1400–50 Wars Alex. 2069 (Dubl. MS.), Þai swyftly hym sware & sothly hym tald. c 1475 Rauf Coilȝear 949 Thay swoir on thair swordis swyftlie all thre. a 1593 Marlowe Hero & Leander i. 292 Hate me not, nor from me flie To follow swiftly blasting infamie. 1596 Shakes. Tam. Shr. v. i. 1 Softly and swiftly sir, for the Priest is ready. a 1729 Congreve Ovid's Art of Love 672 Swiftly seize the Joy that swiftly flies. 1907 Verney Mem. II. 450 Her life came gently but swiftly to a close. |