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
- obsolete Hold; grasp; custody; power of confining or keeping.
- obsolete Contract; specifically, espousal.
Adjective
handfast
- obsolete Fast by contract; betrothed by joining hands.
Verb
en-verb
- transitive To pledge; to bind; to betroth by joining hands, in order to allow 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
Etymology 2
German handfest; hand hand + fest strong.
Noun
handfast
- rare Strong; steadfast.
vi:handfast
zh:handfast
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