fastness

Meanings

1. The quality or state of being fast (in various senses).
2. The quality or state of being strongly attached; firmness, secureness, tenacity.
3. The ability of a dye to withstand fading.
4. The quality or state of moving quickly; quickness, rapidity, swiftness.
5. The quality or state of having an extravagant lifestyle or immoral habits.
6. Of a fortress or other place: the quality or state of being secure from access or attack; safety, security.
7. The quality or state of being firm, hard, or solid; firmness, hardness, solidity.
8. Something that is fast, or that causes someone or something to be fast (in various senses).
9. A fortified or secure place; a fortress, a stronghold.
10. Something used to fasten or tie; a fastener or fastening.

Etymology

From Middle English fastnes, fastnesse (“immovableness, stability; firmness, solidness; secure attachment; constancy; obstinacy; something giving firmness or strength; of sleep: soundness; of a wound: healing; assurance, confirmation”) [and other forms], from Old English fæstnes (“fastness, firmness, stability; resolution; tenacity; vigour; firmament; fortification”) [and other forms], from fæst (“firm, stable; constant”) (from Proto-Germanic *fastuz (“firm, fixed; secure”); see further at that entry) + -nes (suffix forming abstract nouns denoting a quality or state). The English word may be analysed as fast + -ness.

Translations