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expedite

 - 3 dictionary results

ex⋅pe⋅dite

  [ek-spi-dahyt] verb, -dit⋅ed, -dit⋅ing, adjective
Use expedite in a Sentence
–verb (used with object)
1. to speed up the progress of; hasten: to expedite shipments.
2. to accomplish promptly, as a piece of business; dispatch: to expedite one's duties.
3. to issue or dispatch, as an official document or letter.
–adjective
4. Obsolete. ready for action; alert.
Origin:
1425–75; late ME < L expedītus (ptp. of expedīre to disengage, set the feet free), equiv. to ex- ex- 1 + ped- (s. of pēs) foot + -ītus -ite 2

Synonyms:
1. quicken, push, accelerate, hurry.

Antonyms:
1. delay.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To expedite
ex·pe·dite   (ěk'spĭ-dīt')   
tr.v.   ex·pe·dit·ed, ex·pe·dit·ing, ex·pe·dites

  1. To speed up the progress of; accelerate.

  2. To execute quickly and efficiently: was trusted to expedite the directives of the board.

  3. To issue officially; dispatch.


[Latin expedīre, expedīt-, to free from entanglements, make ready; see ped- in Indo-European roots.]
ex'pe·dit'er, ex'pe·di'tor n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

expedite  (v.)
1471, from L. expeditus, pp. of expedire "make fit or ready, prepare," lit. "free the feet from fetters," hence "liberate from difficulties," from ex- "out" + *pedis "fetter, chain for the feet," related to pes (gen. pedis) "foot" (see foot). Cf. Gk. pede "fetter." Expedition (1430) was originally military, "the act of rapidly setting forth."
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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