Hasten, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Hastened; p. pr. & vb. n. Hastening.]
To press; to drive or urge forward; to push on; to precipitate; to accelerate the movement of; to expedite; to hurry. I would hasten my escape from the windy storm. Ps. lv. 8.
1 other Webster entry under this spelling
Hasten, v. i.
To move celerity; to be rapid in motion; to act speedily or quickly; to go quickly. I hastened to the spot whence the noise came. D
Shades of meaning
Fernald has no entry of its own for hasten; he lists it under quicken.
Where he writes about it:
To accelerate any work is to hasten it toward a finish, commonly by quickening all its operations in orderly unity toward the result. — from quicken
To speed is really to secure swiftness; to hasten is to attempt it, whether successfully or unsuccessfully. — from quicken
A good general will improve roads to facilitate the movements of troops, hasten supplies and perfect discipline to promote the general efficiency of the force, despatch details of business, expedite all preparations, in order to accelerate the advance and victory of his army. — from quicken