Handfast

From Fresh Dictionary

Contents 1 English 1.1 Etymology 1 1.1.1 Noun 1.1.2 Adjective 1.1.3 Verb 1.2 Etymology 2 1.2.1 Noun

English

Etymology 1

Middle English hondfast, past participle of hondfesten, to betroth, from Old Norse handfesta, to strike a bargain, pledge  : hönd, hand + festa, to fasten, fix, affirm; see past- in Indo-European Roots.

Noun

handfast

1. ((obsolete{{#if:|, {{{2}}}{{#if:|, {{{3}}}{{#if:|, {{{4}}}{{#if:|, {{{5}}}{{#if:|, {{{6}}}{{#if:|, {{{7}}}{{#if:|, {{{8}}}{{#if:|, {{{9}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}})) Hold; grasp; custody; power of confining or keeping.
2. ((obsolete{{#if:|, {{{2}}}{{#if:|, {{{3}}}{{#if:|, {{{4}}}{{#if:|, {{{5}}}{{#if:|, {{{6}}}{{#if:|, {{{7}}}{{#if:|, {{{8}}}{{#if:|, {{{9}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}})) Contract; specifically, espousal.

Adjective

handfast

1. ((obsolete{{#if:|, {{{2}}}{{#if:|, {{{3}}}{{#if:|, {{{4}}}{{#if:|, {{{5}}}{{#if:|, {{{6}}}{{#if:|, {{{7}}}{{#if:|, {{{8}}}{{#if:|, {{{9}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}})) Fast by contract; betrothed by joining hands.

Verb

to handfast (third-person singular simple present handfasts, present participle handfasting, simple past handfasted, past participle handfasted)

1. ((transitive{{#if:|, {{{2}}}{{#if:|, {{{3}}}{{#if:|, {{{4}}}{{#if:|, {{{5}}}{{#if:|, {{{6}}}{{#if:|, {{{7}}}{{#if:|, {{{8}}}{{#if:|, {{{9}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}))

To pledge; to bind; to betroth by joining hands, in order to allow cohabitation, before the celebration of marriage; to marry provisionally.

1. • (1820) When we are handfasted, as we term it, we are man and wife for a year and a day; that space gone by, each may choose another mate, or, at their pleasure, may call the priest to marry them for life; and this we call handfasting. - Sir Walter Scott, The Monastery

Etymology 2

German handfest; hand hand + fest strong.

Noun

handfast

1. ((rare{{#if:|, {{{2}}}{{#if:|, {{{3}}}{{#if:|, {{{4}}}{{#if:|, {{{5}}}{{#if:|, {{{6}}}{{#if:|, {{{7}}}{{#if:|, {{{8}}}{{#if:|, {{{9}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}})) Strong; steadfast.