View source for handfast

==English==

===Etymology 1===
From {{inh|en|enm|hondfast}}, past participle of {{inh|en|enm|hondfesten||to betroth}}, from {{der|en|non|handfesta||to strike a bargain, pledge}}, itself from {{m|non|hönd||hand}} + {{m|non|festa||to fasten, fix, affirm}}, perhaps from a {{der|en|ine-pro|-}} root {{m|ine-pro|*pHst-}}.

====Noun====
{{en-noun}}

# {{lb|en|obsolete}} A [[hold]], grasp; [[custody]], power of confining or keeping.
#* {{RQ:Shakespeare Cymbeline|act=I|scene=v|passage=And the remembrancer of her to hold<br>The '''hand-fast''' to her lord. I have given him that}}
# {{lb|en|obsolete}} A [[contract]], agreement, covenant; specifically [[betrothal]], [[espousal]].

=====Translations=====
{{trans-top|contract}}
* Danish: {{t|da|håndfæstning}} (XIII-XVII centuries: contract between King and Nobility)
* Dutch: {{t+|nl|handvest|n}}
* French: {{t+|fr|poignée de main}}
* German: {{t|de|Handfest|n}}
* Spanish: {{t|es|atado de las manos|m}}
{{trans-bottom}}

====Verb====
{{en-verb}}

# {{lb|en|transitive}} To [[pledge]]; to [[bind]].
# {{lb|en|transitive|Scotland|archaic|or|historical|except|Wicca}} To [[betroth]] by [[join#Verb|joining]] [[hand#Noun|hands]], in order to [[allow]] for [[cohabitation]] before the [[celebration]] of [[marriage]]; to [[marry]] [[provisionally]].
#* {{RQ:Scott Monastery|volume=II|chapter=XI|pages=311–312|pageref=312|passage=No, Sir Priest or Sir Preacher, Catherine is not my wife— {{...}} she is not my wife, but she is '''handfasted''' with me, and that makes her as honest a woman. [...] When we are '''handfasted''', as we term it, we are man and wife for a year and a day—that space gone by, each may chuse another mate, or, at their pleasure, may call the priest to marry them for life—and this we call '''handfasting'''.}}
#* {{quote-text|en|year=1902|author=John Buchan|title=The Outgoing of the Tide
|passage=Would the lass but consent to go abroad in the unhallowed place at this awful season and hour of the night, she was as firmly '''handfasted''' to the Devil as if she had signed a bond with her own blood; {{...}}}}

====Adjective====
{{head|en|adjective}}

# {{lb|en|obsolete}} Fast by contract; [[betrothed]] by joining hands.
#* {{quote-text|en|year=1546|author=w:John Bale|title=The Actes of Englysh Votaries
|passage=A vyrgine made '''handfast''' to Christ.}}

===Etymology 2===
{{clq|en|de|handfest}}, itself from {{m|de|Hand||hand}} + {{m|de|fest||firm, strong}}.

====Adjective====
{{en-adj}}

# {{lb|en|rare}} Strong; [[steadfast]].

=====Translations=====
{{trans-top|strong; steadfast}}
* Norwegian: {{t|no|håndfast}}
* Swedish: {{t+|sv|handfast}}
{{trans-bottom}}

{{C|en|Wicca}}