speedwell

[ speed-wel ]

/ ˈspidˌwɛl /

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noun

any of several plants, shrubs, or small trees of the genus Veronica, of the figwort family, having opposite leaves and small flowers.

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TAKE JOY IN ACING THIS QUIZ ON “PRIDE” SYNONYMS

Hold your head up high as you embark on this quiz that explores some of the synonyms and meanings of “pride.”

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What does "dignity" mean?

showing self-respect

treating others with kindness

acting selfishly

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Origin of speedwell

1570–80; speed + well¹; so called because its petals fade and fall early

Words nearby speedwell

speed trap, speed-up, speedwalk, speed walking, speedway, speedwell, speedwriting, speedy, speel, speer, speir

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use speedwell in a sentence

After a short delay both vessels set out together; but they soon had to put back, because the Speedwell proved unsafe.
The Story of the Thirteen Colonies|H. A. (Hlne Adeline) Guerber
Low-growing lavender-colored phlox appears in masses, and Cusick's speedwell forms large patches of low-lying blue.
Your National Parks|Enos A. Mills
And they should never have built those two last ships, the Speedwell and the Goodhope; the return on them didn't justify it.
Space Viking|Henry Beam Piper
They managed to charter for this purpose two small vessels, the Speedwell and the Mayflower.
The Story of American History|Albert F. Blaisdell

The Speedwell was found to be unseaworthy and was abandoned.
The Hand of Providence|J. H. Ward

British Dictionary definitions for speedwell

speedwell

/ (ˈspiːdˌwɛl) /

noun

any of various temperate scrophulariaceous plants of the genus Veronica, such as V. officinalis (heath speedwell) and V. chamaedrys (germander speedwell), having small blue or pinkish white flowers

Word Origin for speedwell

C16: from speed + well 1

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012