speedily

What it means

1. In a speedy or fast manner.

   If they keep marching as speedily as they are now, they should reach us within three days."

   1944, H. Lorna Bingham, Tuckonie's Warrior Friend, page 33, column 2

   1 more example

   He was speedily reassured, and with a large, white, rascally grin, and a glance at his charge, seemed to take me into partnership in his exalted trust.

   1899 February, Joseph Conrad, “The Heart of Darkness”, in Blackwood’s Edinburgh Magazine, volume CLXV, number M, New York, N.Y.: The Leonard Scott Publishing Company, […], →OCLC, part I, page 205

In a sentence

He was speedily reassured, and with a large, white, rascally grin, and a glance at his charge, seemed to take me into partnership in his exalted trust.

1899 February, Joseph Conrad, “The Heart of Darkness”, in Blackwood’s Edinburgh Magazine, volume CLXV, number M, New York, N.Y.: The Leonard Scott Publishing Company, […], →OCLC, part I, page 205

Where it comes from

1. Old English*spēdiġlīċe
2. Middle Englishspedily
3. Englishspeedily

From Middle English spedily, spedili, from Old English *spēdiġlīċe, ġespēdiġlīċe (“prosperously”), equivalent to speedy + -ly. Cognate with Scots spedely, spedelie (“quickly, speedily”). Compare also Old English spēdlīċe (“effectually, effectively, successfully, efficaciously, powerfully, in a manner which produces a result”).