FLEET

I. verb Etymology: Middle English fleten, from Old English flēotan; akin to Old High German fliozzan to float, Old English flōwan to flow Date: before 12th century intransitive verb drift , 2. flow , to fade away ; vanish , to fly swiftly, transitive verb to cause (time) to pass usually quickly or imperceptibly, II. noun Etymology: Middle English flete, from Old English flēot ship, from flēotan Date: 13th century a number of warships under a single command, group 2a, b, III. adjective Etymology: probably from 1~ Date: circa 1529 swift in motion ; nimble , evanescent , ~ing , see: fast ~ly adverb ~ness noun