Part 4188

<h1>Fast</h1> <Xpage=544>

<hw>Fast</hw>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[OE. <ets>faste</ets>, <ets>fast</ets>; cf. AS. <ets>f<?/sten</ets>, OHG. <ets>fasta</ets>, G. <ets>faste</ets>. See <er>Fast</er>, <tt>v. i.</tt>]</ety> <p><b>1.</b> <def>Abstinence from food; omission to take nounrishment.</def>

<blockquote>Surfeit is the father of much <b>fast</b>. <i>Shak.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>Voluntary abstinence from food, for a space of time, as a spiritual discipline, or as a token of religious humiliation.</def>

<p><b>3.</b> <def>A time of fasting, whether a day, week, or longer time; a period of abstinence from food or certain kinds of food; <as>as, an annual <ex>fast</ex></as>.</def>

<cs><col>Fast day</col>, <cd>a day appointed for fasting, humiliation, and religious offices as a means of invoking the favor of God.</cd> -- <col>To break one's fast</col>, <cd>to put an end to a period of abstinence by taking food; especially, to take one's morning meal; to breakfast.</cd></cs>

<i>Shak.</i>

<h1>Fast</h1> <Xpage=544>

<hw>Fast</hw>, <tt>a.</tt> <wordforms>[<tt>Compar.</tt> <er>Faster</er> <tt>(?)</tt>; <tt>superl.</tt> <er>Fastest</er> <tt>(?)</tt>.]</wordforms> <ety>[OE., firm, strong, not loose, AS. <ets>f<?/st</ets>; akin to OS. <ets>fast</ets>, D. <ets>vast</ets>, OHG. <ets>fasti</ets>, <ets>festi</ets>, G. <ets>fest</ets>, Isel. <ets>fastr</ets>, Sw. & Dan. <ets>fast</ets>, and perh. to E. <ets>fetter</ets>. The sense <ets>swift</ets> comes from the idea of keeping close to what is pursued; a Scandinavian use. Cf. <er>Fast</er>, <ets>adv</ets>., <er>Fast</er>, <ets>v</ets>., <er>Avast</er>.]</ety> <p><b>1.</b> <def>Firmly fixed; closely adhering; made firm; not loose, unstable, or easily moved; immovable; <as>as, to make <ex>fast</ex> the door</as>.</def>

<blockquote>There is an order that keeps things <b>fast</b>. <i>Burke.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>Firm against attack; fortified by nature or art; impregnable; strong.</def>

<blockquote>Outlaws . . . lurking in woods and <b>fast</b> places. <i>Spenser.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>3.</b> <def>Firm in adherence; steadfast; not easily separated or alienated; faithful; <as>as, a <ex>fast</ex> friend</as>.</def>

<p><b>4.</b> <def>Permanent; not liable to fade by exposure to air or by washing; durable; lasting; <as>as, <ex>fast</ex> colors</as>.</def>

<p><b>5.</b> <def>Tenacious; retentive.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<blockquote>Roses, damask and red, are <b>fast</b> flowers of their smells. <i>Bacon.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>6.</b> <def>Not easily disturbed or broken; deep; sound.</def>

<blockquote>All this while in a most <b>fast</b> sleep. <i>Shak.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>7.</b> <def>Moving rapidly; quick in mition; rapid; swift; <as>as, a <ex>fast</ex> horse</as>.</def>

<p><b>8.</b> <def>Given to pleasure seeking; disregardful of restraint; reckless; wild; dissipated; dissolute; <as>as, a <ex>fast</ex> man; a <ex>fast</ex> liver.</as></def>

<i>Thackeray.</i>

<cs><col>Fast and loose</col>, <cd>now cohering, now disjoined; inconstant, esp. in the phrases <i>to play at fast and loose</i>, <i>to play fast and loose</i>, to act with giddy or reckless inconstancy or in a tricky manner; to say one thing and do another "<i>Play fast and loose</i> with faith." <i>Shak</i>.</cd> <col>Fast and loose pulleys</col></mcol> <fld>(Mach.)</fld>, <cd>two pulleys placed side by side on a revolving shaft, which is driven from another shaft by a band, and arranged to disengage and re\'89ngage the machinery driven thereby. When the machinery is to be stopped, the band is transferred from the pulley fixed to the shaft to the pulley which revolves freely upon it, and <i>vice versa<i>.</cd> -- <col>Hard and fast</col> <fld>(Naut.)</fld>, <cd>so completely aground as to be immovable.</cd> -- <col>To make fast</col> <fld>(Naut.)</fld>, <cd>to make secure; to fasten firmly, as a vessel, a rope, or a door.</cd></cs>

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<h1>Fast</h1> <Xpage=545>

<hw>Fast</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>adv.</tt> <ety>[OE. <ets>Faste</ets> firmly, strongly, quickly, AS. <ets>f<?/aste</ets>. See <er>Fast</er>, <tt>a.</tt>]</ety> <p><b>1.</b> <def>In a fast, fixed, or firmly established manner; fixedly; firmly; immovably.</def>

<blockquote>We will bind thee <b>fast</b>. <i>Judg. xv. 13.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>In a fast or rapid manner; quickly; swiftly; extravagantly; wildly; <as>as, to run <ex>fast</ex>; to live <ex>fast</ex>.</as></def>

<cs><mcol><col>Fast by</col>, &or; <col>Fast beside</col></mcol>, <cd>close or near to; near at hand.</cd></cs>