- "Godspeed" means good luck, success or good fortune. Typically, the person using it is wishing you well. So, when someone bids you "Godspeed," you should thank him or her.
- Probably used sometime around the 13th century, the word "Godspeed" is from the Middle English and would have been written "God spede." It is a shortened version of the phrase "God speed you" or "May God speed you."
- The word "Godspeed" can also be written as "God-speed." The meaning is still the same.
- When the phrase, "God speed you," was expressed during the 13th century, the term "speed" was understood at the time to mean to prosper or to succeed. The meaning is an archaic one and not generally used today.
- The term was often used in literature of old, such as in "Pilgrim's Progress" written by John Bunyan in 1678: "Evangelist, after he had kissed him, gave him one smile, and bid him God-speed." Also, some Bible translations indicate 2 John 10 as "If any man comes to you and brings not this doctrine, receive him not into the house nor say to him: God speed you."
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