HANDFAST

Etymology 1

Noun

handfast (plural handfasts)

(obsolete) A hold, grasp; custody, power of confining or keeping.

(obsolete) A contract, agreement, covenant; specifically betrothal, espousal.

Verb

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

(transitive) To pledge; to bind

(transitive, Scotland, archaic or historical, except, Wicca) To betroth by joining hands, in order to allow for cohabitation before the celebration of marriage; to marry provisionally.

Adjective

handfast

(obsolete) Fast by contract; betrothed by joining hands.

Etymology 2

Adjective

handfast (comparative more handfast, superlative most handfast)

(rare) Strong; steadfast.

Source: Wiktionary

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Hand"fast`, n.

1. Hold; grasp; custody; power of confining or keeping. [Obs.] Shak.

2. Contract; specifically, espousal. [Obs.]

Hand"fast`, a.

Definition: Fast by contract; betrothed by joining hands. [Obs.] Bale.

Hand"fast`, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Handfasted; p. pr. & vb. n. Handfasting.]

Definition: To pledge; to bind; to betroth by joining hands, in order to cohabitation, before the celebration of marriage. [Obs.]

Hand"fast`, n. Etym: [G. handfest; hand hand + fest strong. See Fast.]

Definition: Strong; steadfast.[R.] Carlyle.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition

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