Emily Dickinson Lexicon

AC-CEL'E-RATE, v.t. [L. accelero, of ad and celero, to hasten, from celer, quick; Gr. κελης; Heb. Ch. Syr. and Eth. קלל, קלה or קל, to be light, nimble; Syr. to hasten. In Ch. and Ar. this root signifies also, to be small, or minute.]

1. To cause to move faster; to hasten; to quicken motion; to add to the velocity of a moving body. It implies previous motion or progression.
2. To add to natural or ordinary progression; as, to accelerate the growth of a plant, or the progress of knowledge.
3. To bring nearer in time; to shorten the time between the present time and a future event; as, to accelerate the ruin of a government; to accelerate a battle. – Bacon.