Dictionary

Godspeed en · INTJ

Pronunciation

• (General-American) audio
• /ˌɡɒdˈspiːd/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• /ˌɡɑdˈspid/ (General-American)

Etymology

Univerbation of God speed, elliptical for God speed you, where speed carries the archaic sense “help, further, cause to prosper”. Compare God bless, God damn.

Meanings

1. (literary) Used, particularly at a moment of departure, to convey a wish that an individual’s forthcoming actions yield favorable outcomes; typically addressed to someone embarking on a journey or undertaking a challenging endeavor.
   • So all of America watched at 9:47 a.m. on Feb. 20, 1962, as [John] Glenn took off from Cape Canaveral. Scott Carpenter, backup astronaut for the mission, famously said: "Godspeed, John Glenn." 1962 February 20, Scott Carpenter, quotee, “Godspeed, John Glenn”, in USA Today, McLean, Va.: Gannett Co., published 8 December 2016, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 09 Jul 2021:
   • Thanks, Gordie. May you live long and stay well, too. Godspeed. 2008, Ron Benrey, Janet Benrey, chapter 14, in Season of Glory (Love Inspired Suspense), New York, N.Y.: Steeple Hill Books, →ISBN, page 155:
   • At the threshold of death, how dare I give you permission to go to England, to cross the seas? But I will not stand in your way. It is your mother's permission which really matters. If she permit you, then godspeed! Tell her I will not interfere. You will go with my blessings. 1927, M[ohandas] K[aramchand] Gandhi, “Preparation for England”, in Mahadev Desai, transl., The Story of My Experiments with Truth: Translated from the Original in Gujarati, volume I, Ahmedabad, Gujarat: Navajivan Press, →OCLC, part I, page 95:
   • Duke. God ſpeed father. / 1. Mad[man]. God ſpeed the Plough, thou ſhalt not ſpeed me. 1604, Thomas Dekker, Thomas Middleton, “The Honest Whore, […]”, in The Dramatic Works of Thomas Dekker […], volume II, London: John Pearson […], published 1873, →OCLC, Act I, scene i, page 80:
   • 3 [Citizen]. Neighbours, God ſpeed. / 1 [Citizen]. Giue you good morrovv ſir. c. 1593 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedy of Richard the Third: […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene iii], page 184, column 2:
   • So, class of 2007, join in. And godspeed. 2007 May 12, Peter Steinfels, “At commencement, a call for religious literacy”, in The New York Times, New York, N.Y.: The New York Times Company, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 26 Nov 2022:

Forms

Relateds

godsend · God forbid · God bless you · well-wisher · God willing

Synonyms

goodbye · fare thee well · farewell · all the best · good luck

Translations (45)

nl succes (used to express the wish that the outcome of a person's actions be positive for them) · ar بِالتَّوْفِيق (used to express the wish that the outcome of a person's actions be positive for them) · fr bonne chance (used to express the wish that the outcome of a person's actions be positive for them) · el καλό κατευόδιο (used to express the wish that the outcome of a person's actions be positive for them) · tr hayırlı yolculuklar (used to express the wish that the outcome of a person's actions be positive for them) · hyw Աստուած օգնական (used to express the wish that the outcome of a person's actions be positive for them) · es andá con Dios (used to express the wish that the outcome of a person's actions be positive for them) · es buena suerte (used to express the wish that the outcome of a person's actions be positive for them) · de viel Erfolg! (used to express the wish that the outcome of a person's actions be positive for them) · tr selametle (used to express the wish that the outcome of a person's actions be positive for them) · arz بتوفيق (used to express the wish that the outcome of a person's actions be positive for them) · pl z Bogiem (used to express the wish that the outcome of a person's actions be positive for them) · nl ga met God (used to express the wish that the outcome of a person's actions be positive for them) · cmn 一路順風 /一路顺风 (used to express the wish that the outcome of a person's actions be positive for them) · et Õnnelikku reisi (used to express the wish that the outcome of a person's actions be positive for them) · es vaya con Dios (used to express the wish that the outcome of a person's actions be positive for them) · eo bonŝancon (used to express the wish that the outcome of a person's actions be positive for them) · lt Sudie (used to express the wish that the outcome of a person's actions be positive for them) · eo bonan kuraĝon (used to express the wish that the outcome of a person's actions be positive for them) · lv ar Dievpalīgu (used to express the wish that the outcome of a person's actions be positive for them) · ga go soirbhí Dia dhuit (used to express the wish that the outcome of a person's actions be positive for them) · bg на до́бър ча́с (used to express the wish that the outcome of a person's actions be positive for them) · hy Աստված օգնական (used to express the wish that the outcome of a person's actions be positive for them) · arz ربنا معاك (used to express the wish that the outcome of a person's actions be positive for them) · ar فِي مَعِيَّة اللّٰه (used to express the wish that the outcome of a person's actions be positive for them) · nb Gud være med deg (used to express the wish that the outcome of a person's actions be positive for them) · ru с бо́гом (used to express the wish that the outcome of a person's actions be positive for them) · tr iyi yolculuklar (used to express the wish that the outcome of a person's actions be positive for them) · pl szczęść Boże (used to express the wish that the outcome of a person's actions be positive for them) · el καλή τύχη (used to express the wish that the outcome of a person's actions be positive for them) · es ve con Dios (used to express the wish that the outcome of a person's actions be positive for them) · pl szerokiej drogi (used to express the wish that the outcome of a person's actions be positive for them) · fr que Dieu soit avec toi/vous (used to express the wish that the outcome of a person's actions be positive for them) · nb lykke til (used to express the wish that the outcome of a person's actions be positive for them) · ru бог в по́мощь (used to express the wish that the outcome of a person's actions be positive for them) · pt vai com Deus (used to express the wish that the outcome of a person's actions be positive for them) · cs šťastnou cestu (used to express the wish that the outcome of a person's actions be positive for them) · sv lycka till (used to express the wish that the outcome of a person's actions be positive for them) · fi onnea matkaan (used to express the wish that the outcome of a person's actions be positive for them) · tr yolun açık olsun (used to express the wish that the outcome of a person's actions be positive for them) · pl powodzenia (used to express the wish that the outcome of a person's actions be positive for them) · he בְּהַצְלָחָה (used to express the wish that the outcome of a person's actions be positive for them) · fr bon courage (used to express the wish that the outcome of a person's actions be positive for them) · hu minden jót (used to express the wish that the outcome of a person's actions be positive for them) · kmr oxira xêrê be (used to express the wish that the outcome of a person's actions be positive for them)

Godspeed en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• (General-American) audio
• /ˌɡɒdˈspiːd/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• /ˌɡɑdˈspid/ (General-American)

Etymology

Univerbation of God speed, elliptical for God speed you, where speed carries the archaic sense “help, further, cause to prosper”. Compare God bless, God damn.

Meanings

1. (literary, uncountable) The wishing of someone a smooth journey, or success, especially at a parting; (countable) a statement expressing this.
   • Yff there come eny vnto you and brynge not this learnynge⸝ hym receave not to houſſe: nether bid hym god ſpede. For he that biddeth hym God ſpede⸝ is part taker off his evyll dedes. 1526, [William Tyndale, transl.], The Newe Testamẽt […] (Tyndale Bible), [Worms, Germany: Peter Schöffer], →OCLC, 2 John:[10–11], folio ccc, recto:
   • Eight years before he had seen his friend off at the North Wall and wished him godspeed. 1904–1907 (date written), James Joyce, “A Little Cloud”, in Dubliners, London: Grant Richards, published June 1914, →OCLC, page 84:
   • Mr. C[harles] C[rozat] Converse's new pronoun [thon] of the singular number and common gender has met with a warm welcome from philologists and the press. […] The new word has received a number of godspeeds, some of which we quote. 1884 November 1, “Thon”, in J[eanette] L[eonard], J[oseph] B[enson] Gilder, editors, The Critic: A Literary Weekly, Critical and Eclectic, volume II, number 44, New York, N.Y.: The Good Literature Publishing Co., →OCLC, page 210, column 1:
   • Then Chriſtian took his leave of his Friend, and he again bid him God ſpeed. 1678, John Bunyan, The Pilgrim’s Progress from This World, to That which is to Come: […], London: […] Nath[aniel] Ponder […], →OCLC, page 18:
   • He never danced himself, and there he sat, poking his head in my face, and impressing all the beholders with the idea that he was a confirmed, acknowledged lover; my aunt looking complacently on, all the time, and wishing him God-speed. 1848, Acton Bell [pseudonym; Anne Brontë], “The Warnings of Experience”, in The Tenant of Wildfell Hall. […], volume I, London: T[homas] C[autley] Newby, […], →OCLC, page 279:
   • Ber[inthia]. Speed her vvell. / VVor[thy]. Ay, but there muſt be more than a God ſpeed, or your Charity vvon't be vvorth a farthing. 1696 November (first performance), [John Vanbrugh], The Relapse; or, Virtue in Danger: […], [London]: […] Samuel Briscoe […], published 1697, →OCLC, Act V, scene ii, page 90:
   • [I]n the morning, as Rowland at the garden gate was giving his hostess Godspeed on her way to church, he came striding along the grassy margin of the road and out-whistling the music of the church bells. 1875 January–December, Henry James, Jr., “Rowland”, in Roderick Hudson, Boston, Mass.: James R[ipley] Osgood and Company, late Ticknor & Fields, and Fields, Osgood, & Co., published 1876, →OCLC, page 28:
2. (archaic, countable, figuratively, literary, uncountable) Chiefly in in the Godspeed of: the most important part of something, or point at which something happens; also, the last minute or last moment.
   • I udn't mind seeing her come in when I was in the godspeed of washday, and that's saying something. 1941, Flora Thompson, “‘A Bit of a Tell’”, in Lark Rise to Candleford: A Trilogy, London: Penguin Books, published 1945 (1973 printing), →ISBN, page 291:
   • But a Devil came in juſt in the God-ſpeed, and told them; Gentlemen Philoſophers, (ſays he) if you vvould knovv the VVretched'ſt, and moſt contemptible thing in the VVorld; It is an Alchymiſt: […] 1667, Francisco de Quevedo Villegas, “The Sixth Vision of Hell”, in R[oger] L[’Estrange], transl., The Visions of Dom Francisco de Quevedo Villegas, […], London: […] H[enry] Herringman […], →OCLC, page 247:
   • But juſt in the Godſpeed, the Plot vvas Diſcover'd. 1688, Roger L’Estrange, “Bedloe and Prance Swore to the Plot as well as to the Murther”, in A Brief History of the Times, &c. Part III. Treating of the Death of Sir E[dmund] B[erry] Godfrey, London: […] R. Sare, […], →OCLC, part I, page 19:
3. (countable, figuratively, literary, uncountable) In back of Godspeed: a distant, remote, or unknown place.
   • mrs george. I have earned the right to speak. I have dared: I have gone through: I have not fallen withered into the fire: I have come at last out beyond, to the back of Godspeed. / the bishop. And what do you see there, at the back of Godspeed? 1908 (date written), [George] Bernard Shaw, “Getting Married”, in The Doctor’s Dilemma, Getting Married, & The Shewing-Up of Blanco Posnet, London: Constable and Company, published 1911, →OCLC, page 278:
   • If I don't leave you at the back of God-speed before long, I'll give you the mare and the horse too. 1858, Anthony Trollope, “Frank Gresham’s First Speech”, in Doctor Thorne. […], volume I, London: Chapman & Hall, […], →OCLC, page 124:

Forms

Synonyms

back of beyond

Translations (7)

ru скатертью дорога (wishing of someone a speedy journey, or success, especially at a parting; a statement expressing this) · fi käännekohta (most important part of something, or point at which something happens) · fi kohokohta (most important part of something, or point at which something happens) · fi onnentoivotus (wishing of someone a speedy journey, or success, especially at a parting; a statement expressing this) · vi phù hộ (wishing of someone a speedy journey, or success, especially at a parting; a statement expressing this) · pl życzenie udanej podróży (wishing of someone a speedy journey, or success, especially at a parting; a statement expressing this) · pl ostatnia minuta (most important part of something, or point at which something happens)