Hard pace

[cannyyoung]

From Dracula by Bram Stoker

"The carriage went at a hard pace straight along, then we made a complete turn and....."

I'm just confused by what this 'hard pace' is supposed to mean. Does this mean that the pace was unchanging and steady? (guessing by the feeling of the adjective) or is it using a different meaning of 'hard' that I do not know?

 

[velisarius]

It means that the carriage went fast (the horses were going at a hard pace).

 

[cannyyoung]

Thanks for answering. That was my initial impression of the word too, but I just couldn't find a clear cut definition in the dictionary that would support my impression.

 

[velisarius]

You're right.

You may also see "at an easy pace", meaning "at a slow pace".

 

[cannyyoung]

oh yeah now that you mention it people do say "at an easy pace". Somehow I knew that expression but it never dawned upon me that a "hard pace" would be the exact opposite... I feel so silly now.

 

[velisarius]

It's not silly at all. I'm surprised none of the dictionaries have the phrase.

It's "easy" in the sense of "gentle", and "hard" in the sense of the horse's hooves coming down hard on the ground, I should think.

 

[Barque]

but I just couldn't find a clear cut definition in the dictionary that would support my impression.

I suppose the closest is this: involving a great deal of effort or energy.
hard - WordReference.com Dictionary of English