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Dictionary

Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.

fast en · ADJ · etymology 1

Pronunciation

  • (US) audio
  • făst (Canada, General-American, Northern-England)
  • /fɑːst/ (Australia, General-South-African, New-Zealand, Received-Pronunciation)
  • /fæst/ (Canada, General-American, Northern-England)
  • (Received-Pronunciation) audio
  • fäst (Australia, General-South-African, New-Zealand, Received-Pronunciation)

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Germanic *fastuz Proto-West Germanic *fast Old English fæst Middle English fast English fast From Middle English fast, fest, from Old English fæst (“firm, secure”), from Proto-West Germanic *fast, from Proto-Germanic *fastuz; see it for cognates and further etymology. The development of “rapid” from an original sense of “secure” apparently happened first in the adverb and then transferred to the adjective; compare hard in expressions like “to run hard”. The original sense of “secure, firm” is now slightly archaic, but retained in the related fasten (“make secure”). Also compare close meaning change from Latin rapiō (“to snatch”) to Latin rapidus (“rapid, quick”), from Irish sciob (“to snatch”) to Irish sciobtha (“quick”).

Meanings

  1. (dated) Firmly or securely fixed in place; stable.
    • That rope is dangerously loose. Make it fast!
  2. Firm against attack; fortified by nature or art; impregnable; strong.
    • out-lawes […] lurking in woods and fast places 1596 (date written; published 1633), Edmund Spenser, A Vewe of the Present State of Irelande […], Dublin: […] Societie of Stationers, […], →OCLC; republished as A View of the State of Ireland […] (Ancient Irish Histories), Dublin: […] Society of Stationers, […] Hibernia Press, […] [b]y John Morrison, 1809, →OCLC:
  3. (of people) Steadfast, with unwavering feeling. (Now mostly in set phrases like fast friend(s).)
    • I still hear you sayin', "Dear one, hold me fast" 1933, Will Hudson, Irving Mills, Eddy DeLange, Moonglow:
  4. Moving with great speed, or capable of doing so; swift, rapid; light.
    • I am going to buy a fast car.
  5. (of a neutron, qualifier:nuclear physics) Moving with great speed, or capable of doing so; swift, rapid; light. ▸ Having a kinetic energy between 1 million and 20 million electron volts; often used to describe the energy state of free neutrons at the moment of their release by a nuclear fission or nuclear fusion reaction (i.e., before the neutrons have been slowed down by anything).
    • Plutonium-240 has a much higher fission cross-section for fast neutrons than for thermal neutrons.
  6. Of a place, characterised by business, hustle and bustle, etc.
    • Sydney is a fast city, and the pace is becoming increasingly more frantic. 1968, Carl Ruhen, The Key Club, Sydney: Scripts, page 15:
  7. Causing unusual rapidity of play or action.
    • a fast racket, or tennis court
    • a fast dance floor
    • a fast track
    • a fast billiard table
  8. (of a piece of hardware) Able to transfer data in a short period of time.
    • But at the microlevel it consists of an unimaginable number of atoms connected by springy chemical bonds, all jiggling around at a rate that even our fastest supercomputer might envy. 2007 November 18, Jim Holt, “Mind of a Rock”, in The New York Times:
  9. Deep or sound (of sleep); fast asleep (of people).
    • Since his majesty went into the field, I have seen her rise from her bed, throw her nightgown upon her, unlock her closet, take forth paper, fold it, write upon’t, read it, afterwards seal it, and again return to bed; yet all this while in a most fast sleep. c. 1606 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Macbeth”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene i]:
  10. (of dyes or colours) Not running or fading when subjected to detrimental conditions such as wetness or intense light; permanent.
    • All the washing has come out pink. That red tee-shirt was not fast.
    • Mineral pigments were probably the first materials used for dyeing. They were generally not fast to water. 1979, Kax Wilson, A History of Textiles, Westview Press, →ISBN, page 87:
    • Cochineal is remarkably fast on protein fibers, remaining brilliant and saturated despite exposure to sunlight and washing. 2026, Sara Temme, “Two Insects nad Their Brilliant Reds”, in Handwoven, volume XLVII, number 1, page 19:
  11. (obsolete) Tenacious; retentive.
    • Roses, damask and red, are fast flowers of their smells. 1625, Francis [Bacon], “Of Gardens”, in The Essayes […], 3rd edition, London: […] Iohn Haviland for Hanna Barret, →OCLC:
  12. (dated) Having an extravagant lifestyle or immoral habits.
    • Had Senator Wilson won the unenviable reputation of being a fast man—a lover of wine, or had he shown himself to the public in a state of inebriety, unable to stand erect in Fanueil Hall for instance, leaning upon the desk to “maintain the center of gravity,” and uttering words that fell sprawling in “muddy obscurity” from lips redolent of rum, rendering it necessary for a prompter and an interpreter to sculpture his speech into symmetry for the public ear and the public press, he would have been pelted from his high office with the indignant ballots of his constituents. 1867, George W. Bungay, “Temperance and its Champions”, in The Herald of Health and Journal of Physical Culture, volume I, page 277:
    • a fast woman
    • […] we remember once hearing a fast man suggest that they were evidently "nobs who had overdrawn the badger by driving fast cattle, and going it high" — the exact signification of which words we did not understand […] 1852, John Swaby, Physiology of the Opera, page 74:
    • You're alone with her at last / And you're waiting 'til you think the time is right / Cause you've heard she's pretty fast / And you're hoping that she'll give you some tonight. 1979, Doug Fieger, Good Girls Don't:
    • “I don’t like that young woman,” said Lady Hermione; she’s fast.” “Dear Lady!” “I’ve no doubt you think me old-fashioned. Well, I’m glad I am. I say she’s fast, and what’s more, heartless. I was watching her before supper, and I’m sorry for Tony Lee. She’s been flirting as hard as she can go with Harry Vibart-not to give it a worse name-and she’s got Jim Playfair on a string too. She can’t even leave Frank Bellingham alone, though she’s staying in his house.” 1933, Dorothy L. Sayers, The Queen’s Square:
  13. (dated, of a girl or young woman, offensive, vernacular) Uncharacteristically mature or promiscuous for one's age.
    • […] if she is of the slightly faster kind that gives smart lunch parties at the Strand Corner House, her diet is sometimes a little stronger; she takes to novels of the orchid house and the tiger's lair, to the artless erotics of Miss Elinor Glyn, Mr Hubert Wales, and Miss Victoria Cross. 1918, Walter Lionel George, A Novelist on Novels:
  14. Ahead of the correct time or schedule.
    • There must be something wrong with the hall clock. It is always fast.
  15. (of photographic film) More sensitive to light than average.

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
faster Degree=Cmp lexicographic
fastest Degree=Sup lexicographic

Antonyms

loose · slow (antonym(s) of “occurring or happening within a short time”) · slow · penetrable · light · weak · behind

Deriveds

fast fashion · fast-food · at a fast clip · hard-and-fast · fail fast · fast and furious · fast yellow AB · headfast · fast leg theory · fast mover · fastish · tub-fast · thick and fast · fast tech · shorefast · fast-evolving luminous transient · fast bowling · faster-than-light · sternfast · fast breeder · fast-mo · cragfast · ultra-fast · serofast · fast-foodie · play fast and loose · fast-neutron reactor · fast-talk · semifast · nonfast · fastgrowing · fast reactor · fast food music · fast-fashion · fast break · faster than a minnow can swim a dipper · fast lane · semi-fast · fast-paced · fast crab · fast radio burst · go-fast boat · fastpack · fast lap · barefast · fast-growing · makefast · fast money · fast telegram · not so fast · go-faster stripe · fast rope · go nowhere fast · fast casual · fast forward · fail-fast · fast one · hyperfast · superfast · go faster stripes · fast times · overfast · bedfast · fastness · fast-handed · earthfast · make fast · fastpitch · go-fast · washfast · fast buck · holdfast · fast travel · wetfast · fast-talker · enfasten · as fast as one's legs could carry one · rainfast · acid-fast · fast foodie · fastcore · setfast · hard and fast · fast sheet · move fast and break things · fast-acting · faster than light · fast company · fast ice · lockfast · fastgoing · fast backward · fast follower · fast Fourier transform · fast track · pull a fast one · fast-breeder reactor · fastwalker · fastly · fast-moving · nailfast · fast and loose · hold fast · fast-flowing · fasten · bad news travels fast · in the fast lane · don't drive faster than your guardian angel can fly · fast-tailed · go fast · fast bowler · waterfast · fast-pitch · sunfast · fast blue optical transient · lightning fast · come thick and fast · fast-track · stand fast · fast busy signal · steadfast · tubfast · masterfast · unfast · sitfast · breastfast · fast-forward · faster than Minute Rice · fast as lightning · fast food · think fast · ultra-fast fashion · get nowhere fast · talk fast and loose · ultrafast

Synonyms

light · secure · quick (occurring or happening within a short time) · rapid (occurring or happening within a short time) · slutty · colour-fast · tight · stuck · fortified · speedy (occurring or happening within a short time) · ahead · easy (rapidly consents to sexual activity) · impenetrable · firm · immobile · stable · speedy · sound · light · quick · speedy · gain · quick · swift (occurring or happening within a short time) · deep

Translations (406)

kmr sabit (firmly or securely fixed in place) · is fastur (firmly or securely fixed in place) · ka მარდი (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · da foran (ahead of the correct time or schedule) · lad presto (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · de lichtecht (of a dye: not running or fading) · lv knašs (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · ur تیز (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · ca ràpid (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · fr rapide (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · de tifig (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · swg schleunig (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · kbd псынщӏэ (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · kmr lezgîn (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · os тагъд (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · eve хинма (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · el στερεός (firmly or securely fixed in place) · pl rączy (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · ca ferm (firmly or securely fixed in place) · ce сиха (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · sl híter (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · wyi berren-berren (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · de echt (of friend: steadfast, with unwavering feeling) · hi तीव्र (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · km លឿន (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · lv ātrs (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · ug تېز (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · swg dapferle (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · hi तेज़ (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · az sürətli (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · ur عجول (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · izh huimakas (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · de leicht (having an extravagant lifestyle or immoral habits) · yi גיך (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · af vinnig (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · fi pelinainen (having an extravagant lifestyle or immoral habits) · de halbseiden (having an extravagant lifestyle or immoral habits) · ka ჩქარი (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · pt adiantado (ahead of the correct time or schedule) · de eng (of friend: steadfast, with unwavering feeling) · mk цврст (of sleep: deep or sound) · no rask (of photographic film: more sensitive to light than average) · is kvikur (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · gl á présa (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · mt ħafif (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · izh kiire (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · de flink (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · sv kvick (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · el ταχύς (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · ba ҡаты (of sleep: deep or sound) · ja 速い (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · is snöggur (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · sa रघु (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · es rápido (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · yi פֿעסט (firmly or securely fixed in place) · bg ве́рен (of friend: steadfast, with unwavering feeling) · tg тунд (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · lmy ngattana (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · mt rapidu (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · nl vlug (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · uk міцни́й (of sleep: deep or sound) · lmy giggara (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · yue(moving or capable of moving with great speed) · io ferma (firmly or securely fixed in place) · inh сиха (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · hr бр̑з (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · eu irmo (firmly or securely fixed in place) · fi vahva (firmly or securely fixed in place) · ru бы́стрый (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · be ху́ткі (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · hu gyors (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · vo vifik (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · fo skjótur (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · de fest (of sleep: deep or sound) · br buan (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · mww ceev (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · ur عاجل (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · da dyb (of sleep: deep or sound) · bg укрепе́н (firm against attack) · de tief (of sleep: deep or sound) · no fast (firmly or securely fixed in place) · is fljótur (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · mk цврст (firmly or securely fixed in place) · ka ცქვიტი (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · pdt schwind (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · ba ныҡ (firmly or securely fixed in place) · kmr(moving or capable of moving with great speed) · la vēlōx (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · la celer (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · alt ылтам (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · pt veloz (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · uk міцни́й (of a dye: not running or fading) · ur جلد (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · tg зуд (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · cy cyflym (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · az yeyin (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · ani ххеххи (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · de beständig (of a dye: not running or fading) · ky бек (of sleep: deep or sound) · bg бърз (computing: able to transfer data in a short period of time) · de gleitig (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · is fastur (of sleep: deep or sound) · ba тиҙ (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · de waschfest (of a dye: not running or fading) · fi pitävä (firmly or securely fixed in place) · bh तेज (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · de schnëll (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · ro iute (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · ru ско́рый (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · af vas (firmly or securely fixed in place) · pdt faust (firmly or securely fixed in place) · bg здрав (of sleep: deep or sound) · az iti (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · pt firme (firmly or securely fixed in place) · hu sebes (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · it resistente (of a dye: not running or fading) · de Breitband- (computing: able to transfer data in a short period of time) · sw haraka (of a dye: not running or fading) · pt profundo (of sleep: deep or sound) · de gschwind (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · sh bȓz (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · la rapidus (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · kmr(ahead of the correct time or schedule) · mk постојан (of a dye: not running or fading) · fr ferme (firmly or securely fixed in place) · sw haraka (of photographic film: more sensitive to light than average) · fi nopea (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · de treu (of friend: steadfast, with unwavering feeling) · ca veloç (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · lt tvirtas (firmly or securely fixed in place) · ky ылдам (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · bo མགྱོགས་པོ (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · zh 迅速曝光的 (of photographic film: more sensitive to light than average) · no for tidlig (ahead of the correct time or schedule) · de befestigt (firmly or securely fixed in place) · gl firme (firmly or securely fixed in place) · grc ταχύς (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · chg ایلدام (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · ms laju (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · de lichtempfindlich (of photographic film: more sensitive to light than average) · mi tere (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · ga ceangailte (firmly or securely fixed in place) · da hurtig (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · pt indesbotável (of a dye: not running or fading) · io rapida (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · de schnell (of photographic film: more sensitive to light than average) · vi nhanh (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · pl błyskawiczny (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · el γρήγορος (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · de farbecht (of a dye: not running or fading) · eu finko (firmly or securely fixed in place) · zh 不褪色的 (of a dye: not running or fading) · de Lebemann (having an extravagant lifestyle or immoral habits) · mn хурдан (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · th เร็ว (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · pam masalusu (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · hu siet (ahead of the correct time or schedule) · nl snel (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · no rask (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · nds swind (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · no før (ahead of the correct time or schedule) · izh huima (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · zh(moving or capable of moving with great speed) · mnc ᡥᡡᡩᡠᠨ (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · de schnell (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · it rapida (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · it veloce (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · de wirklich (of friend: steadfast, with unwavering feeling) · sv före (ahead of the correct time or schedule) · sv snabb (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · hy արագ (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · lo ຮັນ (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · hu szilárd (firmly or securely fixed in place) · ko 빠르다 (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · ru спеша́щий (ahead of the correct time or schedule) · it rapido (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · gug pya'e (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · zza pêt (diq) (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · fi nopea (computing: able to transfer data in a short period of time) · zh 牢的 (firmly or securely fixed in place) · av хехаб (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · uk би́стрий (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · yi פֿלינק (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · ru про́чный (firmly or securely fixed in place) · zza vistra (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · ar عميق (of sleep: deep or sound) · ckb زوو (ahead of the correct time or schedule) · de flott (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · lmy ngingata (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · kmr (xewa) giran (of sleep: deep or sound) · izh sukkela (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · oc rapid (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · pl szybki (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · nl rap (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · aii ܓ̰ܲܠܕܹܐ (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · fi menevä (having an extravagant lifestyle or immoral habits) · bg бърз (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · mba madali (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · tr sıkı fıkı (of friend: steadfast, with unwavering feeling) · mk силен (firmly or securely fixed in place) · pl wartki (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · bn দ্রুত (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · my မြန် (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · pl bystry (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · ckb خێرا (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · bg споко́ен (of sleep: deep or sound) · tpi kwik (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · cs rychlý (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · is ör (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · fi vahva (firm against attack) · de lebenslustig (having an extravagant lifestyle or immoral habits) · de verstärkt (firm against attack) · bg неизбеляващ (of a dye: not running or fading) · bg пре́дан (of friend: steadfast, with unwavering feeling) · xal хурдн (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · kmr bilez (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · gl rápido (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · sv snabb (of photographic film: more sensitive to light than average) · eo rapida (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · ang hræd (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · zza rew (diq) (firmly or securely fixed in place) · vi chóng (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · pam malagwa (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · ka წინმსწრები (ahead of the correct time or schedule) · izh selvä (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · ab алас (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · ba шәп (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · be бы́стры (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · ja 早い (ahead of the correct time or schedule) · ne छिटो (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · fi vauhdikas (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · uz tez (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · tl mabilis (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · nds dallig (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · pt rápido (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · fi värinpitävä (of a dye: not running or fading) · bua хурдан (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · sv fäst (firmly or securely fixed in place) · gl adiantado (ahead of the correct time or schedule) · uk швидки́й (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · fr profond (of sleep: deep or sound) · vi mau (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · uk прудки́й (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · gl seguro (firmly or securely fixed in place) · de fixiert (of a dye: not running or fading) · nds snell (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · fr en avance (ahead of the correct time or schedule) · lo ໄວ (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · lv straujš (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · tr berk (firmly or securely fixed in place) · az çapıq (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · mi ngita (firmly or securely fixed in place) · ur سریع (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · el μπροστά (ahead of the correct time or schedule) · alt бек (firmly or securely fixed in place) · hu érzékeny (of photographic film: more sensitive to light than average) · sa आशु (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · ur چابک (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · ar سريع (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · fi luja (firmly or securely fixed in place) · fi syvä (of sleep: deep or sound) · sv djup (of sleep: deep or sound) · sv fast (firmly or securely fixed in place) · chg تیز (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · vi lẹ (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · chg توزکان (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · de undurchdringlich (firm against attack) · ka სწრაფი (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · ja しっかりした (firmly or securely fixed in place) · la celox (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · fi nopea (causing unusual rapidity of play or action) · de vorgehen (ahead of the correct time or schedule) · lt greita (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · tyv дүрген (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · cy buan (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · pdt flinkj (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · de hurtig (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · pox astĕ (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · mt malajr (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · lv nasks (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · mk брз (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · lt greitas (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · da hurtig (of photographic film: more sensitive to light than average) · zza rew (diq) (ahead of the correct time or schedule) · nrf rapide (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · ru кре́пкий (firmly or securely fixed in place) · alt бек (of sleep: deep or sound) · el βαθύς (of sleep: deep or sound) · ne तेज (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · is skjótur (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · lv ašs (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · pt seguro (firmly or securely fixed in place) · id cepat (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · ru скоростно́й (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · ky бек (firmly or securely fixed in place) · lv stipri (firmly or securely fixed in place) · lb séier (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · no fargeekte (of a dye: not running or fading) · eu azkar (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · fi tiukka (firmly or securely fixed in place) · grc θοός (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · lad prestozo (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · it profondo (of sleep: deep or sound) · de liederlich (having an extravagant lifestyle or immoral habits) · ug ئىلدام (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · sw haraka (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · lv žigls (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · ga luath (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · fi uskollinen (of friend: steadfast, with unwavering feeling) · no kjapp (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · zh 偏快的 (ahead of the correct time or schedule) · fa تیز (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · ru обгоня́ющий (ahead of the correct time or schedule) · fi pelimies (having an extravagant lifestyle or immoral habits) · tr hızlı (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · de schnell (causing unusual rapidity of play or action) · ru про́чный (of a dye: not running or fading) · de verankert (firmly or securely fixed in place) · de fest (firm against attack) · de hurtig (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · fa فرز (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · nl gezwind (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · af vroeg (ahead of the correct time or schedule) · bg закрепен (firmly or securely fixed in place) · lmy yayarri (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · uk мі́цно (firmly or securely fixed in place) · lmy geha (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · fi nopea (of photographic film: more sensitive to light than average) · cy clau (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · te త్వరగా (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · tg тез (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · ast rápidu (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · sa जव (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · ur تند (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · lmy payarta (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · nb hurtiggående (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · ne तीव्र (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · nl kwiek (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · is fljótur (ahead of the correct time or schedule) · kmr zeft (firmly or securely fixed in place) · de befestigt (firm against attack) · he הָדוּק (firmly or securely fixed in place) · sa ऋज्र (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · sk rýchly (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · ro grăbit (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · bg избъ́рзващ (ahead of the correct time or schedule) · sv färgäkta (of a dye: not running or fading) · lo ເລວ (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · pl prędki (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · ar سَرِيع (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · gl rapidamente (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · it avanti (ahead of the correct time or schedule) · oc velòç (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · de unzugänglich (firm against attack) · bg избъ́рзал (ahead of the correct time or schedule) · da fast (firmly or securely fixed in place) · fi edellä (ahead of the correct time or schedule) · nl vast (firmly or securely fixed in place) · de geschützt (firm against attack) · ro rapid (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · ne द्रुत (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · pl rychły (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · fo fastur (firmly or securely fixed in place) · mk отпорен (firmly or securely fixed in place) · pt pesado (of sleep: deep or sound) · evn химамэ (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · ta வேகமான (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · gl segura (firmly or securely fixed in place) · it fisso (firmly or securely fixed in place) · de fest (firmly or securely fixed in place) · hu mély (of sleep: deep or sound) · ro repede (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · pdt flott (nds) (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · nds swinn (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · kl sukkavoq (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · de schnell (computing: able to transfer data in a short period of time) · de gnoot (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · ga mear (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · de gaach (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · is hraður (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · eu tinko (firmly or securely fixed in place) · vo sagitavifik (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · de rasch (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · de geschwind (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · pl chyży (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · he מהיר (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · km ឆាប់ (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · fi sikeä (of sleep: deep or sound) · ms lena (of sleep: deep or sound) · gd luath (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · fa تند (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · de trawig (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · de leichtlebig (having an extravagant lifestyle or immoral habits) · da farvefast (of a dye: not running or fading) · evn хима (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · ga suite (firmly or securely fixed in place) · nrf vite (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · no dyp (of sleep: deep or sound) · hu tartós (of a dye: not running or fading) · tr sabit (firmly or securely fixed in place) · de standhaft (of friend: steadfast, with unwavering feeling) · cs hluboký (of sleep: deep or sound) · af kleurvas (of a dye: not running or fading) · ar سريع (moving or capable of moving with great speed) · ru кре́пкий (of sleep: deep or sound) · is hraðskreiður (moving or capable of moving with great speed)

fast en · INTJ · etymology 1

Pronunciation

  • (US) audio
  • făst (Canada, General-American, Northern-England)
  • /fɑːst/ (Australia, General-South-African, New-Zealand, Received-Pronunciation)
  • /fæst/ (Canada, General-American, Northern-England)
  • (Received-Pronunciation) audio
  • fäst (Australia, General-South-African, New-Zealand, Received-Pronunciation)

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Germanic *fastuz Proto-West Germanic *fast Old English fæst Middle English fast English fast From Middle English fast, fest, from Old English fæst (“firm, secure”), from Proto-West Germanic *fast, from Proto-Germanic *fastuz; see it for cognates and further etymology. The development of “rapid” from an original sense of “secure” apparently happened first in the adverb and then transferred to the adjective; compare hard in expressions like “to run hard”. The original sense of “secure, firm” is now slightly archaic, but retained in the related fasten (“make secure”). Also compare close meaning change from Latin rapiō (“to snatch”) to Latin rapidus (“rapid, quick”), from Irish sciob (“to snatch”) to Irish sciobtha (“quick”).

Meanings

  1. (abbreviation, alt-of, ellipsis) Ellipsis of stand fast, a warning not to pass between the arrow and the target.
    alt of stand fast

Antonyms

loose

fast en · NOUN · etymology 1

Pronunciation

  • (US) audio
  • făst (Canada, General-American, Northern-England)
  • /fɑːst/ (Australia, General-South-African, New-Zealand, Received-Pronunciation)
  • /fæst/ (Canada, General-American, Northern-England)
  • (Received-Pronunciation) audio
  • fäst (Australia, General-South-African, New-Zealand, Received-Pronunciation)

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Germanic *fastuz Proto-West Germanic *fast Old English fæst Middle English fast English fast From Middle English fast, fest, from Old English fæst (“firm, secure”), from Proto-West Germanic *fast, from Proto-Germanic *fastuz; see it for cognates and further etymology. The development of “rapid” from an original sense of “secure” apparently happened first in the adverb and then transferred to the adjective; compare hard in expressions like “to run hard”. The original sense of “secure, firm” is now slightly archaic, but retained in the related fasten (“make secure”). Also compare close meaning change from Latin rapiō (“to snatch”) to Latin rapidus (“rapid, quick”), from Irish sciob (“to snatch”) to Irish sciobtha (“quick”).

Meanings

  1. (UK) A train that calls at only some stations it passes between its origin and destination, typically just the principal stations.

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
fasts Number=Plur lexicographic

Antonyms

local · slow train · stopper

Synonyms

fast train · express · express train

fast en · ADV · etymology 2

Pronunciation

  • (US) audio
  • făst (Canada, General-American, Northern-England)
  • /fɑːst/ (Australia, General-South-African, New-Zealand, Received-Pronunciation)
  • /fæst/ (Canada, General-American, Northern-England)
  • (Received-Pronunciation) audio
  • fäst (Australia, General-South-African, New-Zealand, Received-Pronunciation)

Etymology

From Middle English fast, faste, from Old English fæste, from fæst + -e (adverb-forming suffix).

Meanings

  1. In a firm or secure manner, securely; in such a way as not to be moved; safe, sound .
    • Hold this rope as fast as you can.
    • Do as I bid you, ſhut doores after you, Faſt binde, faſt finde, A Prouerbe neuer ſtale in thrifty minde. c. 1596–1598 (date written), W[illiam] Shakespeare, The Excellent History of the Merchant of Venice. […] (First Quarto), [London]: […] J[ames] Roberts [for Thomas Heyes], published 1600, →OCLC, [Act II, scene v], signature D2, recto:
    • Nine hundred of the ſtrongeſt Men were employed to draw up theſe Cords by many Pulleys faſtned on the Poles, and thus, in leſs than three Hours, I was raiſed and flung into the Engine, and there tyed faſt. 1726 October 28, [Jonathan Swift], “The Author Gives Some Account of Himself and Family, His First Inducements to Travel. […]”, in Travels into Several Remote Nations of the World. […] [Gulliver’s Travels], volume I, London: […] Benj[amin] Motte, […], →OCLC, part I (A Voyage to Lilliput), page 20:
  2. (of sleeping) Deeply or soundly .
    • The princess was sleeping fast, and her servants were fast asleep too.
  3. Immediately following in place or time; close, very near .
    • Fast by the sturdy batsman the ball unheeded sped. / That ain't my style, said Casey. Strike one, the umpire said.
    • The horsemen came fast on our heels.
  4. Quickly, with great speed; within a short time .
    • Do it as fast as you can.
    • Faster than a speeding bit, the internet upended media and entertainment companies. Piracy soared, and sales of albums and films slid. Newspapers lost advertising and readers to websites. Stores selling books, CDs and DVDs went bust. Doomsayers predicted that consumers and advertisers would abandon pay-television en masse in favour of online alternatives. 2013 August 17, “Pennies streaming from heaven”, in The Economist, volume 408, number 8849:
  5. Ahead of the correct time or schedule.
    • I think my watch is running fast.

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
fastest Degree=Sup lexicographic
faster Degree=Cmp lexicographic

Antonyms

lightly · slowly · loosely · behind

Synonyms

fastly · deeply · securely · swiftly · fastly · tightly · ahead · firmly · quickly · speedily · rapidly

Translations (159)

da foran (ahead of the correct time or schedule) · ba шәп (with great speed) · alt бек (of sleeping: deeply or soundly) · ka სწრაფად (with great speed) · lld debota (with great speed) · es rápidamente (with great speed) · it in anticipo (ahead of the correct time or schedule) · nrf vite (with great speed) · fr rapidement (with great speed) · ba нығытып (in a firm or secure manner) · ru кре́пко (in a firm or secure manner) · sa स्थिरं (in a firm or secure manner) · ba тиҙ (with great speed) · sv djupt (of sleeping: deeply or soundly) · ky бек (of sleeping: deeply or soundly) · ckb زو (ahead of the correct time or schedule) · no fast (in a firm or secure manner) · uk шви́дко (with great speed) · nv haneetehee (with great speed) · alt бек (in a firm or secure manner) · lt greitas (with great speed) · hu szilárdan (in a firm or secure manner) · is fast (in a firm or secure manner) · ru преждевременно (ahead of the correct time or schedule) · no kjapt (with great speed) · ru бы́стро (with great speed) · pt rápido (with great speed) · el γρήγορα (with great speed) · nv tsį́į́łgo (with great speed) · fi nopeasti (with great speed) · zh(with great speed) · ro repede (with great speed) · mk цврсто (in a firm or secure manner) · ka ჩქარა (with great speed) · he מהר (with great speed) · ca fermament (in a firm or secure manner) · ky ылдам (with great speed) · is fast (of sleeping: deeply or soundly) · ang hraþe (ahead of the correct time or schedule) · et kiirelt (with great speed) · zh 快於標準時間 /快于标准时间 (ahead of the correct time or schedule) · ang fæste (in a firm or secure manner) · de tief (of sleeping: deeply or soundly) · hu gyorsan (with great speed) · ja 速く (with great speed) · cs rychle (with great speed) · bg дълбоко (of sleeping: deeply or soundly) · da hurtigt (with great speed) · lo ໄວໆ (with great speed) · tr hızlı (with great speed) · vi mau (with great speed) · ka სხარტად (with great speed) · nl snel (with great speed) · pt velozmente (with great speed) · hi झटपट (with great speed) · fi pikaisesti (with great speed) · ru кре́пко (of sleeping: deeply or soundly) · de fest (in a firm or secure manner) · pt rapidamente (with great speed) · lld snel (with great speed) · mk предвремено (ahead of the correct time or schedule) · eu azkar (with great speed) · ba ныҡ (in a firm or secure manner) · nv tsį́į́ł (with great speed) · de beschleunigt (with great speed) · da fast (in a firm or secure manner) · grc θοῶς (with great speed) · ca ràpid (with great speed) · af vas (in a firm or secure manner) · fr fermement (in a firm or secure manner) · fr vite (with great speed) · as খৰকৈ (with great speed) · eu agudo (with great speed) · th เร็ว (with great speed) · ka წინსწრებით (ahead of the correct time or schedule) · hu siet (ahead of the correct time or schedule) · sl hítro (with great speed) · es firmemente (in a firm or secure manner) · bg преждеврѐмено (ahead of the correct time or schedule) · fi etuajassa (ahead of the correct time or schedule) · sv före (ahead of the correct time or schedule) · sh bȓzo (with great speed) · alt ылтам (with great speed) · no hurtig (with great speed) · ca veloçment (with great speed) · it saldamente (in a firm or secure manner) · sv kvickt (with great speed) · ms laju (with great speed) · zh 快速 (with great speed) · ckb زو (with great speed) · ang fæste (of sleeping: deeply or soundly) · sv fort (with great speed) · fa تند (with great speed) · be ху́тка (with great speed) · pt seguramente (in a firm or secure manner) · th ไว (with great speed) · ru про́чно (in a firm or secure manner) · ang hraþe (with great speed) · ko 빨리 (with great speed) · fi lujasti (in a firm or secure manner) · ka წინასწარ (ahead of the correct time or schedule) · fi tiukasti (in a firm or secure manner) · sv snabbt (with great speed) · bg здраво (in a firm or secure manner) · sh бр̑зо (with great speed) · da kvikt (with great speed) · ca ràpidament (with great speed) · de schnell (with great speed) · de fest (of sleeping: deeply or soundly) · eo rapide (with great speed) · it velocemente (with great speed) · sw haraka (ahead of the correct time or schedule) · ky бек (in a firm or secure manner) · nv hah (with great speed) · de vorgehen (ahead of the correct time or schedule) · hi जल्दी से (with great speed) · pt firmemente (in a firm or secure manner) · ba ҡаты (of sleeping: deeply or soundly) · ja 急いで (with great speed) · ar بِسُرْعَة (with great speed) · bg силно (in a firm or secure manner) · pl bystro (with great speed) · pl prędko (with great speed) · mk цврсто (of sleeping: deeply or soundly) · es profundamente (of sleeping: deeply or soundly) · as বেগাই (with great speed) · af vinnig (with great speed) · ar عَاجِلًا (with great speed) · fo skjótt (with great speed) · is hratt (with great speed) · vi nhanh (with great speed) · pt adiantadamente (ahead of the correct time or schedule) · da dybt (of sleeping: deeply or soundly) · hi शीघ्र (with great speed) · ka მარდად (with great speed) · fi sikeästi (of sleeping: deeply or soundly) · fo fast (in a firm or secure manner) · it profondamente (of sleeping: deeply or soundly) · mk брзо (with great speed) · nl vlug (with great speed) · tpi kwik (with great speed) · et kiiresti (with great speed) · sv fast (in a firm or secure manner) · no raskt (with great speed) · io rapide (with great speed) · pt profundamente (of sleeping: deeply or soundly) · it rapidamente (with great speed) · sa शीघ्रं (with great speed) · zh 牢固地 (in a firm or secure manner) · bg бъ́рзо (with great speed) · ja しっかりと (in a firm or secure manner) · hu mélyen (of sleeping: deeply or soundly) · sk rýchlo (with great speed) · pl szybko (with great speed) · kmr(with great speed) · no dypt (of sleeping: deeply or soundly) · eo firme (in a firm or secure manner) · lld aslune (with great speed) · af voor (ahead of the correct time or schedule)

fast en · VERB · etymology 3

Pronunciation

  • (US) audio
  • făst (Canada, General-American, Northern-England)
  • /fɑːst/ (Australia, General-South-African, New-Zealand, Received-Pronunciation)
  • /fæst/ (Canada, General-American, Northern-England)
  • (Received-Pronunciation) audio
  • fäst (Australia, General-South-African, New-Zealand, Received-Pronunciation)

Etymology

From Middle English fasten, from Old English fæstan (“to fast”), from Proto-West Germanic *fastēn, from Proto-Germanic *fastāną (“to fast”), from the same root as Proto-Germanic *fastijaną (“to fasten”), derived from *fastuz, and thereby related to Etymology 1. The religious sense is presumably introduced in the Gothic church, from Gothic 𐍆𐌰𐍃𐍄𐌰𐌽 (fastan, “hold fast (viz. to the rule of abstinence)”). This semantic development is unique to Gothic, the term glosses Greek νηστεύω (nēsteúō), Latin ieiuno which do not have similar connotations of "holding fast". The feminine noun Old High German fasta likely existed in the 8th century (shift to neuter Old High German fasten from the 9th century, whence modern German Fasten). The Old English noun originally had the sense "fortress, enclosure" and takes the religious sense only in late Old English, perhaps influenced by Old Norse fasta. The use for reduced nutrition intake for medical reasons or for weight reduction develops by the mid-1970s, back-formed from the use of the verbal noun fasting in this sense (1960s).

Meanings

  1. (intransitive) To practice religious abstinence, especially from food.
    • 1677 George Fox, The Hypocrites Fast and Feast Not God's Holy Day, p. 8 (paraphrasing Matthew 6:16-18). And is it not the Command of Christ, that in their Fast they should not appear unto men to fast?
    • It is at the core of the Vision Quest, the solitary period of fasting and closeness to the earth to discover one's life path and purpose. 2007, John Zerzan, Silence, page 3:
    • Thou didst fast and weep for the child. 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, 2 Samuel 12:21:
    • Fasting he went to sleep, and fasting waked. 1671, John Milton, “The First Book”, in Paradise Regain’d. A Poem. In IV Books. To which is Added, Samson Agonistes, London: […] J[ohn] M[acock] for John Starkey […], →OCLC, page 2:
  2. (intransitive) To reduce or limit one's nutrition intake for medical or health reasons, to diet.
    • The ideal would be to fast in a situation where you are not tempted by food 1977, Suza Norton, “To get the most benefit from fasting use a body-building diet”, in Yoga Journal, Jul-Aug 1977, p. 40:
    • After the equilibration period, the rats designated for deprivation studies were made to fast for 24, 48, 72, or 96 hr according to experimental design. 1983, Experimental Lung Research, volumes 5-6, Informa healthcare, page 134:
  3. (transitive) To cause (a person or animal) to abstain, especially from eating.
    • At 11 weeks of age, all mice were fasted overnight and underwent gallbladder ultrasonography to determine ejection fraction. Walker et al. (2007)
    • Kittens, when fasted overnight, were not hypoglycemic (<60 mg/dl). Semick et al. (2018)

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
fasting Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part lexicographic
fasts Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres lexicographic
fasted Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part lexicographic
fasted Tense=Past lexicographic

Deriveds

unfasted · fastgang · nonfasted · outfast

Translations (128)

ja 断食する (to abstain from food) · prg pastautwei (to abstain from food) · rm gegünar (to abstain from food) · sv fasta (to abstain from food) · yue 齋戒 /斋戒 (to abstain from food) · hi व्रत (to abstain from food) · is fasta (to abstain from food) · vi tuyệt thực (to abstain from food) · la iēiūnō (to abstain from food) · uk голодува́ти (to abstain from food) · zh 齋戒 /斋戒 (to abstain from food) · az oruc tutmaq (to abstain from food) · da faste (to abstain from food) · ru голода́ть (to abstain from food) · vec xunar (to abstain from food) · lv gavēt (to abstain from food) · vec dixunar (to abstain from food) · ro ajuna (to abstain from food) · ka მარხვა (to abstain from food) · grc νηστεύω (to abstain from food) · sw kufunga (to abstain from food) · hy պաս պահել (to abstain from food) · nl vasten (to abstain from food) · pt ficar de jejum (to abstain from food) · id puasa (to abstain from food) · tr oruç tutmak (to abstain from food) · ro posti (to abstain from food) · pt jejuar (to abstain from food) · swb ufunga (to abstain from food) · vec dexunar (to abstain from food) · sh pòstiti (to abstain from food) · bo ཟས་གཅོད (to abstain from food) · ks فاقہٕ تھَوُن (to abstain from food) · ru пости́ться (to abstain from food) · ur روزہ (to abstain from food) · bn উপোস করা (to abstain from food) · rm güner (to abstain from food) · mk пости (to abstain from food) · kmr rojî girtin (to abstain from food) · rm gegüner (to abstain from food) · uk по́сти́тися (to abstain from food) · cs postit se (to abstain from food) · hak 禁食 (to abstain from food) · no faste (to abstain from food) · vec dezunar (to abstain from food) · an ayunar (to abstain from food) · ko 단식하다 (to abstain from food) · sc ageunare (to abstain from food) · pl pościć (to abstain from food) · ta நோன்பிரு (to abstain from food) · te ఉపవాసం (to abstain from food) · sh по̀стити (to abstain from food) · ga déan troscadh (to abstain from food) · cy ymprydio (to abstain from food) · uk по́сти́ти (to abstain from food) · ms berpuasa (to abstain from food) · ga bí ag troscadh (to abstain from food) · pdt fausten (to abstain from food) · hi व्रत रखना (to abstain from food) · eu barau egin (to abstain from food) · vec zunar (to abstain from food) · mi nohopuku (to abstain from food) · rm gigigna (to abstain from food) · ks روزٕ تھَوُن (to abstain from food) · sc deinare (to abstain from food) · ckb رۆژوو گرتن (to abstain from food) · ka მარხულობა (to abstain from food) · hu böjtöl (to abstain from food) · ar صَامَ (to abstain from food) · gd traisg (to abstain from food) · yi פֿאַסטן (to abstain from food) · fur ğunâ (to abstain from food) · sc deunare (to abstain from food) · yue 禁食 (to abstain from food) · br yun (to abstain from food) · sc geunare (to abstain from food) · bn উপবাস রাখা (to abstain from food) · cja عآء (to abstain from food) · zh 禁食 (to abstain from food) · de hungern (to abstain from food) · sc dejunare (to abstain from food) · ms puasa (to abstain from food) · rup agiun (to abstain from food) · fa روزه گرفتن (to abstain from food) · fi paastota (to abstain from food) · yue 絕食 /绝食 (to abstain from food) · th อดอาหาร (to abstain from food) · uk по́стувати (to abstain from food) · fo fasta (to abstain from food) · sq agjëroj (to abstain from food) · eo fasti (to abstain from food) · el νηστεύω (to abstain from food) · ace puasa (to abstain from food) · af vas (to abstain from food) · ks وۄپَس دیُٛن (to abstain from food) · ca dejunar (to abstain from food) · tzm ⴰⵥⵓⵎ (to abstain from food) · ks ورَٛتھ تھَوُن (to abstain from food) · sl postiti se (to abstain from food) · fur zunâ (to abstain from food) · jv pasa (to abstain from food) · es ayunar (to abstain from food) · he צָם (to abstain from food) · io fastar (to abstain from food) · gl xaxuar (to abstain from food) · bg по́стя (to abstain from food) · ka მარხვის შენახვა (to abstain from food) · lt pasninkauti (to abstain from food) · ru попости́ться (to abstain from food) · sc deunzare (to abstain from food) · vec dizunar (to abstain from food) · lld giajuné (to abstain from food) · zh 禁食 (to abstain from food) · tg рӯза гирифтан (to abstain from food) · it digiunare (to abstain from food) · bn রোজা রাখা (to abstain from food) · de fasten (to abstain from food) · rm gigina (to abstain from food) · sc zaunare (to abstain from food) · oc junar (to abstain from food) · arc ܨܡ (to abstain from food) · sc giunai (to abstain from food) · hi उपवास करना (to abstain from food) · am ጾመ (to abstain from food) · fr jeûner (to abstain from food) · ast ayunar (to abstain from food) · njo-jgl lumi (to abstain from food) · ceb puasa (to abstain from food)

fast en · NOUN · etymology 4

Pronunciation

  • (US) audio
  • făst (Canada, General-American, Northern-England)
  • /fɑːst/ (Australia, General-South-African, New-Zealand, Received-Pronunciation)
  • /fæst/ (Canada, General-American, Northern-England)
  • (Received-Pronunciation) audio
  • fäst (Australia, General-South-African, New-Zealand, Received-Pronunciation)

Etymology

From Middle English faste, fasten, from Old English fæsten (“fast, fasting”), from Proto-West Germanic *fastuni, from Proto-Germanic *fastu(b)nją (“fast, fasting”). Cognate with Old Frisian festene, feste (Modern West Frisian fêsten, fêste), Middle Dutch vastene (Modern Dutch vasten), Middle Low German vastene (Modern German Low German Fasten), German Faste, Fasten (“fast, fasting”), Gothic 𐍆𐌰𐍃𐍄𐌿𐌱𐌽𐌹 (fastubni, “fasting”). Possibly merged with Old Norse fasta (“fast, fasting”), whence also Danish faste (“fast, fasting”), Swedish fasta (“fast, fasting”).

Meanings

  1. The act or practice of fasting, religious abstinence from food.
    • 1677 George Fox, The Hypocrites Fast and Feast Not God's Holy Day, p. 8 (paraphrasing Matthew 6:16-18). And is it not the Command of Christ, that in their Fast they should not appear unto men to fast?
    • anciently a change of diet was not reckoned a fast; but it consisted in a perfect abstinence from all sustenance for the whole day till evening. 1878, Joseph Bingham, The Antiquities of the Christian Church, volume 2, page 1182:
  2. Any of the fasting periods in the liturgical year.
    • 1662 Peter Gunning, The Holy Fast of Lent Defended Against All Its Prophaners: Or, a Discourse, Shewing that Lent-Fast was First Taught the World by the Apostles (1677 [1662]), p. 13 (translation of the Paschal Epistle of Theophilus of Alexandria). And so may we enter the Fasts at hand, beginning Lent the 30th. day of the Month Mechir

Forms

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fasts Number=Plur lexicographic

Deriveds

Great Fast · Fast of Tebet · Fast of Esther · black fast · Fast of Gedaliah · breakfast · Fast of Tammuz · fast day · break one's fast