F'AST, a.
1. Literally, set, stopped, fixed, or pressed close. Hence, close tight as, make fast the door take fast hold.
2. Firm immovable.
Who by his strength, setteth fast the mountains. Psalms 115 .
3. Close strong.
Robbers and outlaws - lurking in woods and fast places.
4. Firmly fixed closely adhering as, to stick fast in more to make fast a rope.
5. Close, as sleep deep sound as a fast sleep.
6. Firm in adherence as a fast friend.
Fast and loose, variable inconstant as, to play fast and loose.
F'AST, adv. Firmly immovably.
We will bind thee fast, and deliver thee into their hand. Judges 15 .
F'AST, a. L. festino. The sense is to press, drive, urge, and it may be from the same root as the preceding word, with a different application.
Swift moving rapidly quick in motion as a fast horse.
F'AST, adv. Swiftly rapidly with quick steps or progression as, to run fast to move fast through the water, as a ship the work goes on fast.
F'AST,
1. To abstain from food, beyond the usual time to omit to take the usual meals, for a time as, to fast a day or a week.
2. To abstain from food voluntarily, for the mortification of the body or appetites, or as a token of grief, sorrow and affliction.
Thou didst fast and weep for the child. 2 Samuel 12 .
When ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance. Matthew 6 .
3. To abstain from food partially, or from particular kinds of food as, the Catholics fast in Lent.
F'AST, n.
1. Abstinence from food properly a total abstinence, but it is used also for an abstinence from particular kinds of food, for a certain time.
Happy were our forefathers, who broke their fasts with herbs.
2. Voluntary abstinence from food, as a religious mortification or humiliation either total or partial abstinence from customary food, with a view to mortify the appetites, or to express grief and affliction on account of some calamity, or to deprecate an expected evil.
3. The time of fasting, whether a day, week or longer time. An annual fast is kept in New England, usually one day in the spring.
The fast was now already past. Acts 27 .
F'AST, n. That which fastens or holds.