handfast

== English == === Etymology 1 === From Middle English hondfast, past participle of Middle English hondfesten (“to betroth”), from Old Norse handfesta (“to strike a bargain, pledge”), itself from hönd (“hand”) + festa (“to fasten, fix, affirm”), perhaps from a Proto-Indo-European root *pHst-. ==== Noun ==== handfast (plural handfasts) (obsolete) A hold, grasp; custody, power of confining or keeping. (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) (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 === Calque of German handfest, itself from Hand (“hand”) + fest (“firm, strong”). ==== Adjective ==== handfast (comparative more handfast, superlative most handfast) (rare) Strong; steadfast. ===== Derived terms ===== ===== Translations =====