An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics

The rate at which the velocity of an object changes with time.

Etymology (EN): Acceleration, from accelerate, from L. accelerare “quicken,” from → ad- “to” + celerare “hasten,” from celer “swift” (cf. Skt. car, carati “to move, go, drive,” Gk. keles “fast horse, horse race,” Av. kar- “to walk, move, go around,” Mod.Pers. cal, calidan “to move, to go, to walk” (jald? “quick, active, brisk”), Gilaki/Hamadâni jal “quick, fast,“Lori žil “motion, impulse”); PIE *kel- “to drive, set in swift motion.”

Etymology (PE): Šetâb “quickness, haste, speed,” Mid.Pers. ôštâp “hurry, haste,” ôštâftan “to hurry, hasten,” from *abi.stap-, from
abi- " to; in addition to; against”

• *stap- “to oppress,” Arm. (loanword) štap “haste, trouble.”