godspeed

Interjection capitalized: Godspeed

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.
   • 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...
   • 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

   Synonyms:

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

Noun capitalized: Godspeed

Godspeed (countable and uncountable, plural Godspeeds)

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
   • 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
2. (archaic, figuratively, literary) 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.
   • 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...
   • 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...
3. (figuratively, literary) In back of Godspeed: a distant, remote, or unknown place.
   • 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
   • 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...

   Synonyms:

   back of beyond