The OED cites this early example from a glossary, written around the year 725, of Latin and Old English terms: ‘Successus, spoed,’” explain Patricia O’Conner and Stewart Kellerman in their blog. “The noun ‘speed’ … originally meant ‘success, prosperity, good fortune profit, advancement, furtherance,’ according to the Oxford English Dictionary. Because of the evolution of the English language, “speid” (or sometimes spoed) doesn’t actually translate to our understanding of “fast.” There is some debate over when the word first came into use, but it was likely sometime in the 14 th or 15 th century. Godspeed is defined by Merriam Webster as “a prosperous journey, success.” The Middle English spelling “god speid” eventually gave way to our more modern spelling.
But where did this phrase come from, when did it become popular, and does it actually have any connection to God? Strap in as we dive into Middle English in search of the meaning behind Godspeed. Generally, the word is used to wish someone luck, or for a safe journey.
It was famously used to wish John Glenn luck in 1962, as he lifted off in the capsule Friendship 7, and also appears throughout classic literature. It’s a phrase we rarely hear these days, and when we do it’s usually ironically or in old movies.
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