Words / C2

s-uh-LER-uh-tee/səˈlerəti/

Celerity is swiftness of movement or action (formal / literary): with celerity, surprising celerity. Alacrity (already in the dictionary) is cheerful willingness and speed — the close twin of eager pace; haste (already in the dictionary) is speed that is often too much, and rapid (already in the dictionary) is everyday very fast. A fast brand film does not date the ethics form.

Meaning

Swiftness of movement or action (formal / literary).

Examples

• “Celerity in the brand film does not date the ethics form.”
• “Alacrity is eager speed (already in C2). Haste is often too much speed (already in B2). Rapid is everyday very fast (already in B1). Heat for a method can still be exact. Heat instead of a dated clause is theatre. Write the date; leave the rush.”

Good to know

Swiftness (formal). Close: alacrity (already in C2). Contrast: haste (too much speed — already in B2); rapid (already in B1). Speed ≠ an ethics date.

Near in meaning

swiftness, speed, rapidity, dispatch

New