fastness

English

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fastness

/ˈfɑːs(t)nəs/ UK
/ˈfæs(t)-/ UK
/ˈfæs(t)nəs/ US
/ˈfɑːs(t)nəs/

Rhymes with (Received Pronunciation; trap–bath split) -ɑːstnəs, (General American) -æstnəs

Where it comes from

From Middle English fastnes, fastnesse (“immovableness, stability; firmness, solidness; secure attachment; constancy; obstinacy; something giving firmness or strength; of sleep: soundness; of a wound: healing; assurance, confirmation”) [and other forms], from Old English fæstnes (“fastness, firmness, stability; resolution; tenacity; vigour; firmament; fortification”) [and other forms], from fæst (“firm, stable; constant”) (from Proto-Germanic *fastuz (“firm, fixed; secure”); see further at that entry) + -nes (suffix forming abstract nouns denoting a quality or state). The English word may be analysed as fast + -ness.

noun fastnesses

countable, uncountable The quality or state of being strongly attached; firmness, secureness, tenacity. [T]he thing, as it is, having firſt taken vp her ſtand in the memory, and there by the way of knowledge and witting, imprinted it-ſelfe, it were hard it ſhould not repreſent it ſelfe to the imagination, diſplacing and ſupplanting falſehood, which therein can have no ſuch footing, or ſetled faſtneſſe
countable, specifically, uncountable The ability of a dye to withstand fading. Although aniline dyes have replaced most natural dyes in the modern era, natural dyers still revere cochineal for its brilliance and fastness.
countable, uncountable The quality or state of moving quickly; quickness, rapidity, swiftness. [Frog:] Why are all of us fleein'? What dire peril threatens our sylvan fastness? [Bug:] Just run! Your fastness shouldn't be too slow.
countable, uncountable The quality or state of having an extravagant lifestyle or immoral habits.
archaic, countable, uncountable Of a fortress or other place: the quality or state of being secure from access or attack; safety, security. But now his cruelty ſo ſore ſhe drad, / That to thoſe fennes for faſtneſſe ſhe did fly, / And there her ſelfe did hyde from his hard tyranny.
countable, obsolete, uncountable The quality or state of being firm, hard, or solid; firmness, hardness, solidity. Which was brought to paſſe I beleue, […] by a good way of Epitome, in binding him ſelfe to tranſlate meros Atticos Oratores, and ſo to bring his ſtyle, from all lowſe groſneſſe, to ſoch firme faſtnes in latin, as is in Demoſthenes in Greeke.
also, countable, figuratively, uncountable A fortified or secure place; a fortress, a stronghold. [I]f the VVelſh compelled by famine ventred out of their ſtrengthes or faſtneſſes, in or about Snovvdon, the Garriſon Souldiers of Gannocke vvere ready to intercept and kill them; […]
countable, regional, uncountable Something used to fasten or tie; a fastener or fastening.

Translations

Every language

noun ability of a dye to withstand fading

Italiano	solidità

noun fortified or secure place — see also fortress, stronghold

Deutsch	Feste, Festung
Русский	цитаде́ль citadélʹ, кре́пость krépostʹ, опло́т oplót, тверды́ня tverdýnja

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MLA

"fastness." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/fastness. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026.

APA

fastness. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/fastness

Chicago

"fastness." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/fastness.

BibTeX

@misc{fastness_2026,
  title = {fastness},
  howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
  year = {2026},
  url = {https://micwyn.com/word/fastness},
  urldate = {2026-11-06}
}