haste
UK: heɪst | US: heɪst
n. speed or urgency of movement or action; rashness.
vi. (archaic) to hurry or act with excessive speed.
The word "haste" traces back to Old French, where it originally conveyed urgency or speed, often with a connotation of rashness. Its Frankish root haifst implied forceful action, linking haste to intensity rather than mere quickness. Over time, the violent undertones faded, leaving the modern sense of hurried movement. The silent "e" reflects Middle English spelling habits, preserved despite phonetic shifts.
She completed the task in great haste, leaving errors behind.
"Haste makes waste," he reminded the impatient team.
The letter was written in haste, with ink smudges across the page.
Medieval messengers often traveled with haste to deliver urgent news.
(Archaic) "Haste thee!" the knight cried to his squire.