fastness
(ˈfɑːstnɪs, ˈfæst-)
[f. as prec. + -ness.]
I. The quality or state of being fast.
1. The quality or state of being firmly fixed; fixedness, stability. † Also, firm attachment.
| c 888 K. ælfred Boeth. xxxii. §2 Behealdaþ nu..ða fæstnesse þisses heofenes. 1340 Ayenb. 107 Þet no þing þet moȝe beualle ne moȝe ous ondo of þe ilke uestnesse ne of þise grace. c 1400 Lanfranc's Cirurg. 49 If þat ilke pece have no fastnes to þe hool boon do þat pece awey. a 1400–50 Alexander 3259 (Dubl.) Suld not be funde in hym fastnes. 1523 Fitzherb. Husb. §139 The wynde is lykely to blowe it besyde the heed, for it hath no fastnes in the wode. 1603 Florio Montaigne i. ix. (1632) 16 Falsehood, which therein can have no such footing or setled fastnesse. 1677 Gilpin Dæmonol. (1867) 429 His words be so far from the fastness of nails that they shall be as wind. 1886 E. Knecht tr. Benedikt's Coal Tar Colours iii. 201 Shades..characterised by their extreme fastness. |
† b. Fidelity, loyalty, firm adherence. Const.
to.
| c 1577 Stanyhurst Epitaph Baron of Louth (Arb.) 151 Thee fastnesse of foster brotherhod. 1648 Symmons Vind. Chas. I, 331 Your tender care, and constant fastness to our Soveraign. |
† 2. Close alliance.
Obs. rare.
| a 1631 Sir R. Cotton Advice in Rushw. Hist. Coll. I. 471 Nothing can prevent the Spanish Monarchy, but a Fastness of those two Princes. |
† 3. The quality or state of being compact or close; density, solidity. Also of style: Conciseness, pithiness.
Obs.| 1555 Fardle Facions i. ii. 30 This earth then brought by y⊇ heate of the sonne into a more fastenesse. a 1568 R. Ascham Scholem. (Arb.) 114 To bring his style, from all lowse grosnesse, to soch firme fastnes in latin, as is in Demosthenes in Greeke. 1621 Ainsworth Annot. Ps. xix. 11 Solid gold, called Paz, which hath the name of strength, fastnesse, or solidity. 1660 Sharrock Vegetables 17 They think to hinder their quick descent by the fastness of the ground. 1666 J. Smith Old Age (1752) 103 The fastness and fulness of the flesh. 1673–4 Grew Anat. Trunks ii. vii. §4 Its Fastness [depending] on the closeness of the true Wood. |
† 4. Capacity for gripping tightly or retaining; tenacity, retentiveness.
Obs.| 1552 Huloet, Fastnes, tenacia, tenacitas. 1581 Mulcaster Positions v. (1887) 27 We finde also in them [children], as a quickenes to take, so a fastnesse to retaine. |
† 5. Security from invasion, difficulty of access; safety, strength.
Obs. Cf. 9.
| 1596 Spenser F.Q. v. x. 18 To those fennes for fastnesse she did fly. 1600 J. Dymmok Ireland (1843) 23 It is very hard to hurt him, by reason of the fastnes of his cuntry. 1697 Dryden Virg. æneid ix. 940 The Foes had left the fastness of their Place. |
6. Rapidity, swiftness.
| a 1642 Sir W. Monson Naval Tracts iv. (1704) 452/1 Our..Ships have..advantage..by reason of their Fastness by a Wind. 1727–36 Bailey, Fastness, swiftness. 1871 Sir H. Holland Recoll. (1872) 268 The increased fastness of living, incident to all classes and occupations of men. |
7. Of persons: The quality of being ‘fast’ in manners, talk, or mode of living.
Cf. fast a. 10.
| 1859 Mrs. Carlyle Lett. III. 1 There is a growing taste for fastness. 1863 Lond. Rev. 31 Jan. 126/1 Her fastness is more impulsive and less calculating, very much the result merely of animal spirits and impatience of restraint. 1881 C. New Serm. 101 Fastness is not manliness, but emptiness and weakness. 1889 H. James London Life xi. 211 Putting an appearance of ‘fastness’ upon her. |
II. Concrete senses.
† 8. That which fastens or keeps fast.
a. Support, help.
b. A fastening.
Obs.| a. 1382 Wyclif Ps. xxiv. [xxv.] 14 Fastnesse is the Lord to men dredende hym. a 1400 Prymer (1891) 109 Oure lord is a fastnesse to hem that dredith hym. |
| b. 1676 Worlidge Cyder (1691) 117 Weights of..lead, with rings, cords or other fastnesses to them. 1879 G. F. Jackson Shropsh. Word.-bk., ‘That theer bull's bin 'ilin the dur o' 'is place, an' bruk the fas'ness.’ |
9. A place not easily forced; a stronghold, fortress.
| c 1000 ælfric Gram. ix. §12 (Z.) 41 Munimen..fæstnys. 1586 J. Hooker Girald. Irel. in Holinshed II. 157 They..ouertooke them at a fastenes fast by the woods side. 1650 Cromwell Let. 30 July (Carlyle), They would rather tempt us to attempt them in their fastness. 1748 Anson's Voy. ii. i. 121 Separate herds..which inhabit distinct fastnesses. 1844 H. H. Wilson Brit. India III. 341 A strong and almost inaccessible fastness at Bandi. |
| fig. 1864 Lowell Fireside Trav. 200 In the impregnable fastness of his great rich nature he [the Roman] defies us. |