hied

Hied is an English verb that serves as the simple past tense and past participle of hie, a now-archaic word meaning to go quickly or hasten. The form is chiefly encountered in historical or literary texts, and in modern usage it appears mainly for stylistic effect or quotation. In everyday contemporary English, speakers would typically say someone “hurried” or “hastened” instead of using hied.

In usage, hied describes a sudden or purposeful movement, often in service of urgency or duty. The present tense forms of hie—such as the imperative “Hie thee hence!” and the third-person present “hies”—are rarely used outside of poetry or period writing. The typical modern constructions replace these with standard verbs like hurry or hasten. An example of the past tense is: “He hied away to the town to deliver the message.”

Etymology and history: hie and its past tense hied originate in Old English and Middle English, and the form persisted into Early Modern English in literary contexts. Today, hied is primarily found in historical texts, religious or epic literature, and in works designed to evoke older speech patterns. It is generally treated as archaic and is not part of standard contemporary grammar.

See also: hie (to hasten), hurry, hasten. Usage notes: reserve hied for period-style writing or quotation to convey a sense of antiquity or formal diction.