haste

n. [ OE. hast; akin to D. haast, G., Dan., Sw., & OFries. hast, cf. OF. haste, F. hâte (of German origin); all perh. fr. the root of E. hate in a earlier sense of, to pursue. See Hate. ] 1. Celerity of motion; speed; swiftness; dispatch; expedition; -- applied only to voluntary beings, as men and other animals. [ 1913 Webster ]

The king's business required haste. 1 Sam. xxi. 8. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The state of being urged or pressed by business; hurry; urgency; sudden excitement of feeling or passion; precipitance; vehemence. [ 1913 Webster ]

I said in my haste, All men are liars. Ps. cxvi. 11. [ 1913 Webster ]

To make haste, to hasten.

Syn. -- Speed; quickness; nimbleness; swiftness; expedition; dispatch; hurry; precipitance; vehemence; precipitation. -- Haste, Hurry, Speed, Dispatch. Haste denotes quickness of action and a strong desire for getting on; hurry includes a confusion and want of collected thought not implied in haste; speed denotes the actual progress which is made; dispatch, the promptitude and rapidity with which things are done. A man may properly be in haste, but never in a hurry. Speed usually secures dispatch. [ 1913 Webster ]