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That feels like a non-standard usage of “speedy”, even accounting for linguistic drift since 1789.
by SilasX 6y ago
That feels like a non-standard usage of “speedy”, even accounting for linguistic drift since 1789.
- thaumasiotes 6y agoNot really. All such descriptors are standardly applied in a comparative manner - it is normal to describe a snail as "speedy" if it's faster than other snails, regardless of whether it's faster than other centipedes. But that purely linguistic analysis only tells you that "speedy trial" has no objective meaning, which can't be the intent of the phrase. The right to a "speedy trial" was supposed to ensure that trials occur speedily relative to some context which is now lost.
- giantg2 6y agoNot really. Rules of statutory construction generally say that you need to use a definition from the dictionary if it's not defined in the statute. Webster's basically says without delay. However, it's somewhat ambiguous. The principle of lenity is supposed to interpret ambiguity in favor of the defendant... it rarely happens.
- thaumasiotes 6y ago> Webster's basically says without delay. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/speedy https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/speedy The entire gloss is "marked by swiftness of motion or action. Also: prompt sense 2". Prompt 2 is "performed readily or immediately". We can reasonably interpret "immediately" as "without delay", but we then run into the problem that that is explicitly one of two options.
- giantg2 6y agoSorry, DDG showed a definition. The link under it was from Webster's.
- thaumasiotes 6y agoThe definition DDG shows is also "characterized by rapid motion; swift".
- giantg2 6y ago"Accomplished or arrived at without delay; prompt"
- thaumasiotes 6y agoYes, where the dictionary gives you two glosses, you're not free to take one of them as being the only possible meaning.
- giantg2 6y agoNor are you