An Icelandic-English dictionary. Richard Cleasby and Gudbrand Vigfusson. 1874.
handfast — /hand fast , fahst /, n. Archaic. a covenant or contract, esp. a betrothal, usually completed by a handclasp. [1150 1200; ME (ptp.), earlier handfest < Scand; cf. ON handfestr, ptp. of handfesta to betroth with a joining of hands, equiv. to hand… … Universalium
handfast — [hand′fast΄] n. [< HANDFAST the vt.] Obs. 1. a firm hold, as with the hands 2. a contract, esp. of marriage or betrothal, confirmed by a handclasp adj. 1. Obs. betrothed or married 2. Rare tightfisted vt … English World dictionary
handfast — I. ˈ ̷ ̷ˌ ̷ ̷ transitive verb Etymology: Middle English handfesten, handfasten, from Old Norse handfesta, from hand , hönd hand + festa to fasten, from fastr fast more at hand, fast archaic : to bind in contract by joining hands; … Useful english dictionary
