Part 5103

<note>&hand; <i>Handed</i> is used in composition in the sense of <i>having</i> (such or so many) <i>hands</i>; as, bloody-<i>handed</i>; free-<i>handed</i>; heavy-<i>handed</i>; left-<i>handed</i>; single-<i>handed</i>.</note>

<h1>Hander</h1> <Xpage=668>

<hw>Hand"er</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <def>One who hands over or transmits; a conveyer in succession.</def>

<i>Dryden.</i>

<h1>Handfast</h1> <Xpage=668>

<hw>Hand"fast`</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <p><b>1.</b> <def>Hold; grasp; custody; power of confining or keeping.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<i>Shak.</i>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>Contract; specifically, espousal.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<h1>Handfast</h1> <Xpage=668>

<hw>Hand"fast`</hw>, <tt>a.</tt> <def>Fast by contract; betrothed by joining hands.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<i>Bale.</i>

<h1>Handfast</h1> <Xpage=668>

<hw>Hand"fast`</hw>, <tt>v. t.</tt> <wordforms>[<tt>imp. & p. p.</tt> <er>Handfasted</er>; <tt>p. pr. & vb. n.</tt> <er>Handfasting</er>.]</wordforms> <def>To pledge; to bind; to betroth by joining hands, in order to cohabitation, before the celebration of marriage.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark><-- ##?? to allow cohabitation? -->

<h1>Handfast</h1> <Xpage=668>

<hw>Hand"fast`</hw>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[G. <ets>handfest</ets>; <ets>hand</ets> hand + <ets>fest</ets> strong. See <er>Fast</er>.]</ety> <def>Strong; steadfast.</def><mark>[R.]</mark>

<i>Carlyle.</i>

<h1>Handfastly</h1> <Xpage=668>

<hw>Hand"fast`ly</hw>, <tt>adv.</tt> <def>In a handfast or publicly pledged manner.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<i>Holinshed.</i>

<h1>Handfish</h1> <Xpage=668>

<hw>Hand"fish`</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <fld>(Zo\'94l.)</fld> <def>The frogfish.</def>

<h1>Handful</h1> <Xpage=668>

<hw>Hand"ful</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt>; <plu>pl. <plw>Hand flus</plw> <tt>(#)</tt></plu>. <ety>[AS. <ets>handfull</ets>.]</ety> <p><b>1.</b> <def>As much as the hand will grasp or contain.</def>

<i>Addison.</i>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>A hand's breadth; four inches.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<blockquote>Knap the tongs together about a <b>handful</b> from the bottom. <i>Bacon.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>3.</b> <def>A small quantity.</def>

<blockquote>This <b>handful</b> of men were tied to very hard duty. <i>Fuller.</i></blockquote>