dots-menu
×

Mawson, C.O.S., ed. (1870–1938). Roget’s International Thesaurus. 1922.

Class II. Words Relating to Space
Section IV. Motion
2. Degrees of Motion

274. Velocity.

   NOUN:VELOCITY, speed, celerity; swiftness &c. adj.; rapidity, eagle speed, lightning speed; expedition (activity) [See Activity]; pernicity [obs.]; acceleration; haste [See Haste].
  SPURT, sprint, rush, dash, race, steeple chase; automobile race; Marathon race or Marathon; smart -, lively -, swift &c. adj. -, rattling [colloq.] -, spanking [slang] -, strapping [colloq.]- -rate, – pace; round pace; flying, flight.
  PACE, gallop, canter, trot, round trot, run, scamper; hand -, full- gallop; swoop.
  [COMPARISONS] lightning, light, electricity, wind; cannon ball, rocket, arrow, dart, hydrargyrum, quicksilver, Mercury; wireless, telegraph, express train; swallow flight; torrent.
  eagle, antelope, courser, race horse, barb, gazelle, greyhound, hare, doe, squirrel, camel bird, swallow, chickaree, chipmunk, hackee [U. S.], ostrich. scorcher [slang], joy rider [colloq.], speed maniac.
  Mercury, Ariel, Puck, Camilla, Harlequin.
  [MEASUREMENT OF VELOCITY] velocimeter, speedometer, patent log, log, log line.
   VERB:MOVE QUICKLY, trip, fisk [obs.]; speed, hie, hasten, spurt, sprint, post, spank, scuttle; scud, scuddle [obs. or Scot.], scurry, whiz; thunder -by, – on; scour, scour the plain; scamper; run, run like mad [colloq.], fly, race, run a race, cut away, shoot, tear, whisk, sweep, skim, brush; skedaddle [colloq.], cut and run [colloq.], cut along [colloq.], bowl along; scorch [colloq.]; rush &c. (be violent) [See Violence]; dash on, dash off, dash forward; bolt; trot, gallop, bound, flit, spring, dart, boom; march in -quick, – double- time; ride hard, get over the ground; give her the gas, step on her tail, run wide open [all automobile cant].
  HURRY (hasten) [See Haste]; bundle, bundle along; bundle on; accelerate, put on; quicken; quicken -, mend -one’s pace; clap spurs to one’s horse; make haste, make rapid strides, make forced marches, make the best of one’s way; put one’s best leg foremost, stir one’s stumps [slang], wing one’s way, set off at a score; carry sail, crowd sail; go off like a shot, go ahead, gain ground; outstrip the wind, fly on the wings of the wind.
  KEEP UP WITH, keep pace with.
  OUTSTRIP [See Overrun]; outmarch.
   ADJECTIVE:FAST, speedy, swift, rapid, quick, fleet; nimble, agile, expeditious; express; active [See Activity]; flying, galloping &c. v.; light-footed, nimble-footed; winged, eagle-winged, mercurial, electric, telegraphic; light-legged, light of heel; swift as an arrow &c. n.; quick as lightning &c. n.; quick as thought. 1
   ADVERB:SWIFTLY &c. adj.; with speed &c. n.; apace; at a great rate, at full speed, at railway speed; full drive, full gallop; posthaste, in full sail, tantivy; like a shot [colloq.], like greased lightning [colloq.]; trippingly; instantaneously [See Instantaneity].
  under press of -sail, – canvas, – sail and steam; velis et remis [L.], on eagle’s wing, in double-quick time; with rapid strides, with giant strides, à pas de géant [F.], in seven-league boots; whip and spur; ventre à terre [F.]; as fast as one’s -legs, – heels- will carry one; as fast as one can lay feet to the ground, at the top of one’s speed; by leaps and bounds; with haste [See Haste]; in high (gear or speed) [automobiling].
   QUOTATIONS:
  1. Tempus fugit.
  2. Vires acquirit eundo.
  3. I’ll put a girdle round about the earth In forty minutes.—Midsummer Night’s Dream
  4. Swifter than arrow from the Tartar’s bow.—Midsummer Night’s Dream
  5. He was the sworn companion of the wind.—Dunsany