Swiftness
['swiftnis]
Definition
(n.) The quality or state of being swift; speed; quickness; celerity; velocity; rapidity; as, the swiftness of a bird; the swiftness of a stream; swiftness of descent in a falling body; swiftness of thought, etc.
Edited by Jeffrey
Examples
- The swiftness with which the papers displaced the gruesome details of the little girl's death by exultation over the business future of the city was a caution. Walter Lippmann. A Preface to Politics.
- Mrs. Rouncewell, who holds the light, is giddy with the swiftness of his eyes and hands as he starts up, furnished for his journey. Charles Dickens. Bleak House.
- During this length of time the shell might have been carried by a marine country of average swiftness to a distance of 660 geographical miles. Charles Darwin. On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection.
- With exemplary swiftness Bob Gliddery departed, and returned. Charles Dickens. Our Mutual Friend.
- With a bound the black leaped entirely over the rushing beast and turning with incredible swiftness planted a second arrow in Horta's back. Edgar Rice Burroughs. Tarzan of the Apes.
- It was the conception of an inspired moment, and she shot off with her utmost swiftness to work it out. Charles Dickens. Hard Times.
- I was like a wild beast that had broken the toils; destroying the objects that obstructed me, and ranging through the wood with a stag-like swiftness. Mary Shelley. Frankenstein_Or_The Modern Prometheus.
- While doing this, with a swiftness incredible to one who has not watched an Italian peasant, he indicated a very remarkable and sinister smile. Charles Dickens. Little Dorrit.
- Then he who is to be a really good and noble guardian of the State will require to unite in himself philosophy and spirit and swiftness and strength? Plato. The Republic.
- I have just discovered that the goose owes its swiftness to the shape of its feet. Harriette Wilson. The Memoirs of Harriette Wilson.
- Yet he was probably of a delicate physique, because of the swiftness with which he died under the pains of crucifixion. H. G. Wells. The Outline of History_Being a Plain History of Life and Mankind.
- I sunk to the ground, and my injurer, with increased swiftness, escaped into the wood. Mary Shelley. Frankenstein_Or_The Modern Prometheus.
- High into bending and swaying branches he was borne with what seemed to him incredible swiftness, while Tarzan chafed at the slowness of his progress. Edgar Rice Burroughs. Tarzan of the Apes.
Inputed by Antonia