Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition


handfast

hand′fastˊ

(hănd′fȧstˊ)
,
Noun.
1.
Hold; grasp
[Obs.]
Shak.
2.
Custody; power of confining or keeping.
[Obs.]
Shak.
3.
A contract; specifically, an espousal.
[Obs.]

hand′fastˊ

,
Adj.
Fast by contract; betrothed by joining hands.
[Obs.]
Bale.

hand′fastˊ

,
Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
handfasted
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
handfasting
.]
1.
To pledge; to bind.
[Obs.]

hand′fastˊ

,
Adj.
[G.
handfest
;
hand
hand +
fest
strong. See
Fast
.]
Strong; steadfast.
[R.]
Carlyle.

Webster 1828 Edition


Handfast

HAND'F`AST

,
Noun.
Hold; custody; power of confining or keeping.

HAND'F`AST

,
Adj.
Fast by contract; firm.

HAND'F`AST

,
Verb.
T.
To pledge; to betroth; to bind; to join solemnly by the hand.

Definition 2024


handfast

handfast

English

Noun

handfast (plural handfasts)

  1. (obsolete) A hold, grasp; custody, power of confining or keeping.
    (Can we find and add a quotation of Shakespeare to this entry?)
  2. (obsolete) A contract, agreement, covenant; specifically betrothal, espousal.
Translations

Verb

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

  1. (transitive) To pledge; to bind
  2. (transitive, Wicca) To betroth by joining hands, in order to allow for a wedlease or temporary cohabitation before the celebration of marriage; to marry provisionally.
    • (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

Adjective

handfast

  1. (obsolete) Fast by contract; betrothed by joining hands.
    (Can we find and add a quotation of Bale to this entry?)

Etymology 2

German Handfest, itself from Hand 'hand' + fest 'firm, strong'.

Adjective

handfast (comparative more handfast, superlative most handfast)

  1. (rare) Strong; steadfast.
Translations