Besped

/bɪˈspɛd/ verb

Definition

Past tense of besped; to hurry or speed up; to hasten or accelerate.

Etymology

Archaic past tense of the verb 'besped,' formed from 'be-' (to make) plus 'sped' (the past tense of speed). This represents an experimental be- verb that did not survive into modern English usage.

Kelly Says

The verb 'besped' shows English speakers freely inventing 'be-' verbs through history—some like 'besmirch' became permanent, but 'besped' lost out to the simpler 'sped,' revealing which linguistic experiments speakers ultimately kept.

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