celerity

celerity, alacrity, legerity are comparable when they are used in reference to human beings and denote quickness in movement or action.

Celerity stresses speed in moving or especially in accomplishing work

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she could, when she chose, work with astonishing celerity— Bennett

}

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the human brain, we are reminded, acts at times with extraordinary celerity— Cardozo

}

Alacrity emphasizes promptness in response more than swiftness in movement, though the latter is usually implied

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"You must wait till she sends for you—" and she winced a little at the alacrity of his acceptance— Wharton

}

Very often, also, it connotes eagerness or cheerful readiness

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working away at his subject with the alacrity ... of a man . . . fulfilling the very office ... for which nature had designed him— L. P. Smith

}

Legerity, a less common word than the others, refers more to the quality than to the rate of speed and implies nimbleness and ease

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cover the ground with the legerity of a trained runner

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when the mind is quickened . . . the organs . . . newly move, with . . . fresh legerity— Shak.

}

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the legerity of the French mind made the Gallic visitor quick to comprehend his desire for solitude— Wylie

}

Analogous words: expedition, dispatch, speed, hurry, *haste: quickness, rapidity, swiftness, fleetness (see corresponding adjectives at FAST): velocity, *speed: agility, briskness, nimbleness (see corresponding adjectives at AGILE)

Antonyms: leisureliness

Contrasted words: slowness, deliberateness or deliberation, dilatoriness (see corresponding adjectives at SLOW): *lethargy, languor