▪ I. † ˈfasten, n. Obs. exc. in Comb.
Fastens-een, Fasten Tuesday, dial. Forms: 1–2 fæsten fæstan, (Northumb. fæstern), 1–3 festen, vesten, 3 fasten, fastin, (fastim), 4– (see Fastens-een).
[OE. fæsten str. neut.:—OTeut. type *fastunjo-m, f. *fast-êjan to fast. Similar but not exactly equivalent derivatives are OS. fastunnia str. fem., Goth. fastubni str. neut. The ONorthumb. form fæstern (cf. éfern, wéstern = WS. ǽfen, wésten) is the source of the Sc. fastryn, fastern, etc.: see Fastens-een.]
1. Fasting; an act of fasting; = fast n.1 1.
| c 825 Vesp. Psalter cviii. [cix.] 24 Cneow min ᵹeuntrumad sind fore festenne. 971 Blickl. Hom. 37 Halᵹiaþ eower fæsten & medeme lac bringaþ Drihtne. c 1000 Ags. Gosp. Matt. xvii. 21 Soþlice þis cynn ne byþ ut-adryfen buton þurh ᵹebed and fæsten. c 1175 Lamb. Hom. 37 Ne lipnie ȝe no al to eower festene ȝif ȝe maȝen eni oðer god don. a 1225 Ancr. R. 138 Vesten, wecchen & oðre swuche..beoð mine sacrefises. a 1300 Cursor M. 28627 (Cotton Galba) Ogains pride praier may rise, fastin for flesli couatyse. |
2. = fast n.1 2.
| a 725 Laws Wihtræd §14 Gif mon his heowum in fæsten flæsc ᵹefe. c 1050 Byrhtferth's Handboc in Anglia VIII. 311 Þæt ymbren fæstan byð on þissum monðe. c 1200 Winteney Rule St. Benet (1888) 83 Þa bec synd to syllanne on anginne fæsten[es]. |
3. Comb., as fasten-day, fasten-tide, fasten-time.
| a 900 Charter xxxvii. in O.E. Texts (1885) 444 Gif hit þonne festendæᵹ sie. a 1035 Sec. Laws of Cnut §47 Yfel bið þæt man riht fæsten-tide ær mæle ete. a 1225 Ancr. R. 318 Ich hit dude inne leinten, ine uestendawes, holidawes. a 1300 Cursor M. 27210 (Cott.) Halitide or fastim dai. Ibid. 28464 (Cott.) Bath lenten tide and fasten day oft haue i broken gain my lay. Ibid. 29071 (Cott.) Yee hele yur aun fastintide. Ibid. 29083 (Cott.) Þai held noght fastin time. |
▪ II. fasten, v.
(ˈfɑːs(ə)n, -æ-)
Forms: fæstnian, festnian, 3 south. væstn(i)en, Orm. fesstnenn, 3–4 festnen, fastnen, festni, south. vestni, 3–6 festne, festen, festin, 5 festyn, feston, 4–8 fastne, 6 Sc. fessin, -ynn, fassinn, 4– fasten. Also with prefix 1–2 ȝe-, 2–4 pa. tense and pa. pple. i-, y-.
[OE. fæstnian = OFris. festna, OS. fastnôn, OHG. fastinôn, festinôn (MHG. festenen, mod.G. festnen), to make firm, bind fast (cf. also ON. fastna to plege, betroth, Da. fastne to consolidate, Sw. fastna intr. to stick fast):—OTeut. *fastinôjan, f. *fast-u- fast a. See -en5.]
To make fast (cf. senses of the adj.).
† 1. a. trans. To make firm or stable; to establish, settle, confirm. to fasten the feet: to give or obtain sure foothold. Obs.
| a 1175 Cott. Hom. 221 Þa ȝefestnede se ælmihti god þa nigen angle wærod. c 1200 Trin. Coll. Hom. 57 Þe holie man is ned þat he [? insert bie] festned on his holinesse. a 1225 Leg. Kath. 2011 To festnin ham in treowe bileaue. a 1300 E.E. Psalter xcii[i]. 1 He festned werld of erthe al. 13.. E.E. Allit. P. C. 273 Þer he [Ionas] festnes þe fete. c 1340 Cursor M. 27898 (Fairf.) Alle þat euer festenis witte drunkenis scailis hit. a 1400 Prymer (1891) 38 So in syon y was fastned. 1535 Coverdale Song Sol. viii. 8 Yf she be a tower, we shal festen her with bordes of Cedre tre. ― Ecclus. xl. 25 Golde and syluer fasten the fete [Vulg. est constitutio pedum]. a 1569 A. Kingsmill Comf. Afflict. (1585) F iv, The faithful are fastened and confirmed therein most unfaignedly. 1643 Plain English 22 Men walking among Quagmires, know not where to fasten a foot. |
† b. To make sure, confirm, ratify (an agreement). Obs.
| a 900 Charter xli. in O.E. Texts 448 Ic abba ᵹeroefa ðis write & festnie mid kristes rodetacne. a 1000 Byrhtnoth 35 (Gr.) We willað wið þam golde grið fæstnian. a 1175 Cott. Hom. 219 Þa þe hi alle hafeden þisne red betwuxe ham ȝefestnod. c 1205 Lay. 29061 Ȝif hit þi wille weore..þas spechen uæstnien. a 1225 Ancr. R. 62 Ich habbe ivestned, seið Job, foreward mid min eien. 13.. E.E. Allit. P. B. 327 Bot my forwarde with þe I festen on þis wyse. 1382 Wyclif Jer. xxxv. 16 Fastneden therfore the sonus of Jonadab [Vulg. Firmauerunt igitur filii Ionadab], sone of Recab, the heste of their fader. c 1425 Wyntoun Cron. vi. xii. 80 In-to þat place, Quhare festnyd all þare Cownandis was. 1553 T. Wilson Rhet. (1580) 41 Matrimonie, whiche the creatour of all thynges did..fasten and make holy. |
† 2. a. To make firm or solid; to strengthen, harden. Obs.
| c 1400 Lanfranc's Cirurg. 52 Þis medicyn fastneþ þe place & defendiþ him fro putrefaccions. c 1440 Giraldus' Hist. Irel. (E.E.T.S.) 22 Lasers to clense, paralys to festnen, y-dropesie..to helen. c 1440 Secrees, Prose Version (E.E.T.S.) 149 Mete and drynke þat he was costomed to byfore norisshed by, & þat has festnyd his substance. 1577 B. Googe Heresbach's Husb. ii. (1856) 106 The force of the aire in Winter doth fasten and make sounde the Trees. |
† b. intr. To become firm; to ‘set’. Obs.
| 1660 England's Monarchy Freest State in World 7 How is it probable..that any Government..can ever subsist and fasten, without an exorbitant and all-devouring power..to uphold..it. 1726 Leoni tr. Alberti's Archit. I. 36 b, Buildings..are taken with the Frost..before ever they have fasten'd. 1730 A. Gordon Maffei's Amphith. 285 The rough part of them fastens very well with Mortar. |
† c. trans. To fortify. Obs.
| 1387 Trevisa Higden (Rolls) II. 109 Edward þe Eldere fastened a castel at the Mamcestre in Norþumberlond. |
† 3. a. To make fast (in fetters); to set fast, render unable to move. Obs.
| a 1000 Andreas 49 (Gr.) Hie þam halᵹan þær handa ᵹebundon and fæstnodon. a 1300 E.E. Psalter lxviii. 3 [lxix. 2], I am festened in slime depe. 1632 Lithgow Trav. v. 223 Such..deep carouses of wine that both hee and I were almost fastned in the last plunge of understanding. |
b. intr. To become fast or unable to move.
| 1742 Young Nt. Th. vi. 397 We leap at stars, and fasten in the mud. 1853 Kane Grinnell Exp. x. (1856) 71 We fastened in the ice. |
4. a. trans. To make fast to something else; to attach, more or less securely, by a tie or bond of any kind. Const. to, occas. on, upon; also with advbs. on, together, up. Formerly often, now rarely, with immaterial object.
| c 1175 Lamb. Hom. 121 Mid irenen neilen he wes on þere rode ifestned. c 1200 Vices & Virtues (1888) 95 To hire bieð ifastned alle ðe raftres of ðe hali mihtes. a 1225 St. Marher. 19 Festne wið fulht mi sawle to þe seoluen. 1340 Ayenb. 221 Hy byeþ y-uestned to-gidere be spoushod. 1398 Trevisa Barth. De P.R. iv. iii. (1495) 82 Moysture..fastnyth the partyes togider. c 1400 Destr. Troy 2849 Þai..festonit the flete. c 1450 Mirour Saluacioun 3498 Hevenly thinges and erthly hym liked eft festyn to gidere. 1483 Act 1 Rich. III, c. 8 Preamb., Dyers..upon the Lists of the same Clothes festen and sowe great Risshes. 1552 Abp. Hamilton Catech. (1884) 77 Samekil is the lufe of God & our nychbour fessinit and linkit togiddir. 1590 Shakes. Com. Err. i. i. 86 My wife and I, Fastned our selues at eyther end the mast. 1662 J. Davies tr. Mandelslo's Trav. E. Ind. 10 To fasten and cement them together. 1696 Col. Rec. Pennsylv. I. 497 Men that are fastned to the Country by visible estates. 1759 tr. Adanson's Voy. Senegal 74 When they saw it [my hair], really fastened to my head. 1796 Jane Austen Pride & Prej. (1885) II. v. 185 The chaise arrived, the trunks were fastened on. 1837 Dickens Pickw. iv, Fastened up behind the barouche was a hamper. 1840 E. Howard Jack Ashore III. xv, He consented to be again fastened up, but he walked about as much as the limits of his chain would permit. 1849 James Woodman vii, The visitor proceeded to fasten his horse to a large iron hook. 1852 Motley Corr. (1889) I. v. 137 The canvas..had been fastened on a pole. |
b. absol. or intr. To make one's boat fast. In whale-fishing: to fasten to (see quot. 1820); also in indirect pass.
| 1700 S. L. tr. C. Fryke's Voy. E. Ind. 207 As soon as we could come to fasten by her [the Ship's] side. 1820 Scoresby Acc. Arctic Reg. II. 534 Each boat ‘fastens to’, or strikes a distinct fish. 1839 T. Beale Sperm Whale 46 ‘Fastened to’..means, when a harpoon with a line attached is fixed in his body. Ibid. 165 The two boats that have not yet ‘fastened’..give chase. |
5. a. To bind (a servant, an apprentice) by a contract or agreement (dial.); cf. fastening penny. † b. To join in a contract with (obs.).
| 1362 Langl. P. Pl. A. ii. 51 In Mariage..To beo fastnet with fals. 1425 Sc. Acts, 1st Parl. Jas. I c. 20 Þe schiref sall assigne xl dais to sic ydil men to get þaim masteris, or to festyn þaim to leful craftes. 1632 Lithgow Trav. viii. 353, I fastned Iohn Browne with him to accompany his returne. Mod. (Sheffield) He's a sort of a prentice, but he's not fastened. |
6. To attach together the parts of (a fabric or structure). Obs. exc. Naut.
| 1562 Turner Baths 16 a, They that are..not well fastened together, ought not to tarye so long in the bath. 1609 Skene Reg. Maj., Chalmerlan Air c. 27 §2 They festen and bindes them not with lether or glew. 1646 Sir T. Browne Pseud. Ep. ii. iii. 71 Their ships are fastened not with Iron but wood. 1860 Merc. Marine Mag. VII. 284 A ship fastened with yellow metal. |
7. a. To make fast, secure (a tie, band); to secure (an article of dress), e.g. with a clasp, pins, buttons, etc. Also, with pregnant sense, to fasten (a person) in a garment.
| a 1300 Cursor M. 1728 (Cott.) [Noe] he self festnid bath band and lace. c 1350 Will. Palerne 1720 Sche..festened hire in þat fel wiþ ful god þonges. 1600 J. Pory tr. Leo's Africa ii. 24 The corners of which mantle are..fastened about their shoulders. 1696 tr. Du Mont's Voy. Levant 130 Breeches fasten'd with Buttons. 1727 De Foe Hist. Appar. iv. (1840) 31 No chain can bind him, but the chains fastened on him by Heaven. 1767 J. Byron Voy. round World 51 Skins..fastened about their necks by a thong. |
b. to fasten off (a thread): to fix with a knot or extra stitches.
| 1893 Mrs. Leach's Fancy-work Basket May 146/2 Run ribbon through holes..and fasten it off at wrist with neat bow. |
c. intr. To admit of being fixed or fastened.
| 1850 F. E. Smedley F. Fairlegh iv, The macintosh..fastening round the neck with a hook and eye. 1924 A. D. Sedgwick Little French Girl ii. viii, A dark silk dress fastening at the breast with a great old clasp of wrought gold. |
8. a. trans. To make fast (a door, etc.) with a latch, bolt, etc., or (an envelope, etc.) with a seal. Hence, to fasten (a person or animal) in or out. Also with up.
| 1749 Fielding Tom Jones viii. vi, I will fasten the door. 1764 Lloyd Rhyme 153 Colts..Clapt up and fasten'd in the pound. 1797 Mrs. Radcliffe Italian xii, I have not caused this gate to be fastened. 1801 Southey Thalaba ix. xxii, Her ears are closed with wax, And her prest finger fastens them. 1819 Byron Juan i. cxxxvi, The door was fastened. 1833 H. Martineau Tale of Tyne vi. 103 The lattice was not quite fastened. 1860 Tyndall Glac. i. xxvii. 216 The rooms were swept..the shutters fastened. 1868 Atkinson Cleveland Gloss., To fasten out, to turn the Moor-sheep to the moor for the season, excluding them for good from the enclosed land. 1908 J. S. Fletcher Paradise Crt. v. ii, Was he..to be fastened up there like a rat in a trap for—how long? |
b. intr. To admit of being closed with fastenings.
| 1829 Scott Old Mort. Note x, The iron hasps [of the window]..fastened in the inside. 1862 G. Macdonald D. Elginbrod ii. xxiv, He could find no fastening upon it [sc. a door]. ‘No doubt,’ thought he, ‘it does fasten, in some secret way or other.’ |
† 9. To close (the hands, teeth) with a grip. to fasten hold: to take hold firmly. Obs.
| 1530 Lyndesay Test. Papyngo 354 Fassinnyng ȝour fingaris faste. 1585 T. Washington tr. Nicholay's Voy. Turkie iv. xxx. 153 To the end their adversaries should fasten the lesse hold upon them. 1596 Spenser F.Q. v. iv. 15 This threasure..well I proue..To be this maides with whom I fastned hand. 1599 Minsheu Dial. Sp. & Eng. (1623) 51 Two hands fastned together, alwaies hath beene a token of friendship. 1607 Topsell Serpents (1653) 750 When it once biteth and fasteneth teeth, it never letteth go. |
10. a. To fix or hold securely in position; to make fast (what is loose).
| a 1300 Cursor M. 8223 (Cott.) Bot þat þa wandis þan had rote, þat festind ware in erde sua fast. c 1400 Apol. Loll. 86 Festining it wiþ irne þat it fal not. c 1400 Lanfranc's Cirurg. 156 For to fastne þe schuldre þis boon rostral is putt in maner of a wegge. c 1440 Gesta Rom. i. 1 (Harl. MS.) Þis nigromancien..fastenyd it [ymage] in þe wall afore him. 1578 Lyte Dodoens ii. lxxxv. 264 Axen of Rosemarie burnte, doth fasten loose teeth. 1662 J. Davies Voy. Ambass. 24 A great Cross, fasten'd in a great piece of timber. 1703 Moxon Mech. Exerc. 223 Pitch the other sides to be Turned flat carefully against the Hole..fastning them with Wax. 1821 Shelley Boat on Serchio Poems (1891) 586/2 Sit at the helm—fasten this sheet. |
b. with immaterial object; also with inf. as obj.
| c 1200 Ormin Ded. 219 He wollde fesstnenn swa Soþ trowwþe i þeȝȝre brestess. ibid. 2441 Icc hafe fesstnedd i min þohht To libbenn i clænnesse. 1393 Langl. P. Pl. C. xiii. 9 Freres wollen..fastne þe in here fraternite. c 1430 Hymns Virg. (1867) 26 Fastne þere in þee my þouȝt. 1513 More Rich. III Wks. 45/1 Suche euyll oppinyon once fastened in mennes heartes. 1611 Shakes. Wint. T. ii. iii. 15 He..Fasten'd, and fix'd the shame on't in himselfe. 1683 Pennsylv. Archives I. 74 Time will..fasten things as they are and should be. 1818 Cruise Digest 481 When once a trust is sufficiently created, it will fasten itself upon the estate. |
c. to fasten down: to fix (a thing) so as to prevent its rising: fig. to fix definitely.
| 1731 Medley Kolben's Cape of G. Hope I. 68, I have..rescued the character of the Hottentots from the brutish stupidity to which it has been fastened down by all the authors. 1876 Gladstone in Contemp. Rev. June 12 To fasten down its sense, the affix ‘Evangelical’ may suffice. Mod. The lid of the box is fastened down. |
† d. intr. To take hold; to attach oneself; to make one's abode. Obs.
| c 1400 Destr. Troy 1429 Of a sparke unaspied..May feston vp fyre. 1590 Spenser F.Q. iii. ii. 26 The Damzell well did vew his Personage And liked well, ne further fastned not, But went her way. 1625 Fletcher & Shirley Nt.-Walker i. i, A very pretty girl she was..But he was too wise to fasten. a 1657 R. Loveday Lett. (1663) 258 We are here in London, where I think we shall fasten for most part of this ensuing Summer. 1742 Young Nt. Th. iii. 531 We..Spring from our fetters; fasten in the skies. |
† 11. trans. To deliver effectively (a blow); to imprint (a kiss). Const. on. Obs.
| c 1500 Lancelot 850 Strokis festnit in the shelde. 1531 Elyot Gov. i. xvi, Or he coulde fasten on the other any violent stroke. 1613 Purchas Pilgrimage iv. vii. (1614) 370 A mutuall kisse..is fastened on the cheeke. 1632 J. Hayward tr. Biondi's Eromena 170 Wee could never come once to fasten a blow on him. 1633 T. Stafford Pac. Hib. ii. xxiii. 243 I could never fasten a salley yet upon him, but with losse to myselfe. 1697 Dryden Virgil Ded. E j, Cou'd he fasten a blow..when not suffer'd to approach. |
12. In various fig. applications of senses 4, 7, 10: To fix (something) upon (a person, etc.). a. To direct (feelings, thoughts, attention, etc.) intently or keenly towards.
| a 1400 Prymer (1891) 53 Y schal fastne myn eyen op on þe. c 1450 Mirour Saluacioun 793 Hire hert vpwards on heven was festined nyght & day. 1568 E. Tilney Disc. Mariage B vj, If she once fasten hir eyes on a nother, he shall enjoy hir. 1603 Shakes. Meas. for M. iii. i. 203 Fasten your eare on my aduisings. 1611 Bible Luke iv. 20 The eyes of all..were fastened on him. 1633 Bp. Hall Hard Texts 320 To that man whose heart is fastned upon thee. 1840 Dickens Old C. Shop xli, The attention of the sly little fiend was fastened upon them. 1850 Hawthorne Scarlet L. Introd. (1883) 50 My eyes fastened themselves upon the old scarlet letter. 1885 Manch. Exam. 10 July 572 A madman armed with a knife, upon whom a steady eye must be fastened. |
b. To fix (a nickname, imputation, etc.) on a person; to impute or attach to.
| 1615 Stephens Satyr. Ess. (ed. 2) 38 Thinke how little paines Doth fasten credit upon lucky straines. 1638 Wilkins New World ii. (1707) 20 Some of the Ancients have fasten'd strange Absurdities upon the Words of the Scripture. 1672 Cave Prim. Chr. i. v. (1673) 12 To form and fasten this charge upon them. Ibid. iii. v. (1673) 368 The story..fastened upon Philip the Emperor. a 1674 Clarendon Surv. Leviath. (1676) 304 He hath not been able..to fasten the least reproch upon them. 1722 Sewel Hist. Quakers (1795) I. Pref. 18 To fasten doctrines upon them which they never approved. 1855 Macaulay Hist. Eng. III. 310 Those very Londoners..now fastened on the prince..the nickname of Butcher. |
† c. To induce acceptance of (a gift, etc.); to propose (a health). Obs.
| 1604 Shakes. Oth. ii. iii. 50 If I can fasten but one Cup vpon him. 1615 Stephens Satyr. Ess. (ed. 2) 256 If you fasten a guift upon him, his thankes bee liberall. 1632 Lithgow Trav. x. 431, I neuer saw one..to pledge or present his Maiesties health; but as many other healths as you list; they will both fasten, and receiue from you. 1673 Ray Journ. Low C. 435 We could scarce fasten any mony upon them. 1726 Adv. Capt. R. Boyle 354, I did not know how to fasten a Present upon Mr. Ratcliff. |
d. To impose (something unwelcome) on a person. Now chiefly in to fasten a quarrel upon: to drag into a quarrel against his inclination. Also with to.
| 1663 Dryden Wild Gallant ii. i, He..could never fasten a quarrel upon you. 1682 Enq. Elect. Sheriffs 8 Endeavouring..to fasten such a Sheriff upon them. 1718 Freethinker No. 41. 294 Divert her Malice by fastening a new Spark upon her. 1797 Godwin Enquirer i. vi. 36 No practice..fastened upon us by decrees and penalties. 1855 Macaulay Hist. Eng. III. 325 The..Macdonalds..fastened a succession of quarrels on the people of Inverness. 1861 Hughes Tom Brown at Oxf. v. (1889) 36 He..had fastened himself upon him. 1881 Mrs. J. H. Riddell Sen. Partner xxxv, One of the nephews..insisted on fastening himself to Mr. Snow. |
e. = fix v. 6 c.
| 1881 Mrs. J. H. Riddell Sen. Partner xvi, Fastening her kinsman with a cold steely eye. |
13. intr. to fasten on, fasten upon: † a. to obtain a firm hold upon, become fixed on (obs.); b. to seize on, lay hold of; to single out for attack or censure; to avail oneself eagerly of (a pretext, etc.).
| a 1225 Leg. Kath. 1180 O godd..ne mei nan uuel festnin. c 1230 Hali Meid. 15 Þe fiends arrow..ne wundeð þe nawt bute hit festni oþe. 1513 More in Grafton Chron. II. 783 No colour could fasten upon these matters. 1590 Shakes. Com. Err. ii. ii. 175, I will fasten on this sleeve of thine. 1607 Rowlands Famous Hist. 48 Experience often hath..taught, that when advantage I do see, To fasten on occasion and begin. 1647 N. Bacon Disc. Govt. Eng. i. xl. (1739) 60 Yet could not that custom fasten upon the Saxons. 1662 J. Davies Voy. Ambass. 57 They break down the houses adjoyning..that it [fire] may not fasten on other more solid structures. 1726 Adv. Capt. R. Boyle 230 An English Mastiff..had the Impudence to fasten upon my Rival by the Arm. 1844 Thirlwall Greece VIII. 389 The senate..viewed Perseus as a prey, on which it resolved to fasten. 1844 Stanley Arnold (1858) I. ii. 25 One object on which our..imaginations may fasten. 1847 L. Hunt Men, Women, & Books I. ii. 20 He is fastened upon by the man with the bundle. 1855 Motley Dutch Rep. ii. vii. (1866) 282 The whole mob..fastened upon the company of marble martyrs. 1875 Jowett Plato (ed. 2) IV. 285 Sickness..has fastened upon him. |