post-haste

From the former instruction on letters "haste, post, haste," later reinterpreted as a compound of post + haste.

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˌpəʊstˈheɪst/
• (US) IPA^(key): /ˌpoʊstˈheɪst/

• Audio (US):

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post-haste (not comparable)

1. Alternative spelling of posthaste.

• (quickly): ASAP, quickly

post-haste (uncountable)

1. A great hurry.
   • c. 1599–1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene i], lines 103-106:

     And this, I take it,
     Is the main motive of our preparations
     The source of this our watch, and the chief head
     Of this post-haste and rummage in the land.

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