Crossword Genius

It's apt to be hastily diminished (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

speed

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'apt to be hastily diminished' is the definition.
I can't judge whether this definition defines the answer.

'it's' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite see how this works, but
'it' could be 'e' ('e' can mean 'electronic' which is similar to 'IT') and 'e' is located in the answer.
The remaining letters 'sped' is a valid word which might be clued in a way I don't see.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for speed that I've seen before include "Move quickly (and illegally?)" , "Race" , "Rtae of progress" , "Film sensitivity to light" , "Hasten" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.
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