handfast
AI In plain words
Writing a short explanation…
Written by a house AI from the entry below, in your language. The entry itself is the source.
handfast¹
Where it comes from
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 handfasts
- A hold, grasp; custody, power of confining or keeping. And the remembrancer of her to hold The hand-fast to her lord. I have given him that
- A contract, agreement, covenant; specifically betrothal, espousal.
verb handfasts · handfasting · handfasted
- To pledge; to bind.
- To betroth by joining hands, in order to allow for cohabitation before the celebration of marriage; to marry provisionally. No, Sir Priest or Sir Preacher, Catherine is not my wife— […] she is not my wife, but she is handfasted with me, and that makes her as honest a woman. [...] 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 chuse another mate, or, at their p
adjective
- Fast by contract; betrothed by joining hands. A vyrgine made handfast to Christ.
handfast²
Where it comes from
Calque of German handfest, itself from Hand (“hand”) + fest (“firm, strong”).
adjective more handfast · most handfast
- Strong; steadfast.
