Rapidest

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. Exhibiting the greatest possible velocity or swiftness in motion
2. Representing the highest extent of quickness and promptness in behavior
3. Having the highest speed compared to all others in motion

Etymology: "Rapidest" is the superlative of "rapid," formed by adding the older "-est" ending to show the highest degree of a quality. "Rapid" entered English in the 1600s from the Latin "rapidus," meaning "seizing" or "carrying off," which comes from "rapere," "to seize." The Latin sense of forceful grabbing faded in English, leaving the idea of swift motion. Most modern writers prefer "most rapid" for longer adjectives, so "rapidest" sounds archaic or informal to many ears. It appears in older English and in some dialect or casual speech, but it is less common than the periphrastic form.

Synonyms: fastest, quickest

Antonyms: slowest