An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/gerade

by Friedrich Kluge

gerade (2.), adj., ‘going in one direction, straight, upright, from MidHG. gerat, ‘alert, quick, skilful, recently grown up, straight and therefore long’; the primary meaning is ‘nimble, rapid’; comp. OHG. rado (and rato, hrato), ‘quick,’ AS. rœðe (also hrœde), ‘quick,’ Goth. raþs, ‘easy.’ Perhaps primit. allied to Rad, Lat. rota.