Definition of Handfest
Hand"fast` (-f&adot;st`), n.
1. Hold; grasp; custody; power of confining or
keeping. [Obs.] Shak.
2. Contract; specifically, espousal.
[Obs.]
Hand"fast`, a. Fast by contract;
betrothed by joining hands. [Obs.] Bale.
Hand"fast`, v. t. [imp. & p.
p. Handfasted; p. pr. & vb. n.
Handfasting.] To pledge; to bind; to betroth by joining
hands, in order to permit cohabitation, before the celebration of
marriage. [Obs.]
Hand"fast`, a. [G. handfest;
hand hand + fest strong. See Fast.] Strong;
steadfast.[R.] Carlyle.
- Webster's Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
- (obsolete) Hold; grasp; custody; power of confining or keeping.
- (obsolete) Contract; specifically, espousal.
- (obsolete) Fast by contract; betrothed by joining hands.
- (transitive) To pledge; to bind; to betroth by joining hands, in order to allow cohabitation, before the celebration of marriage; to marry provisionally.
- (1820) 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 choose another mate, or, at their pleasure, may call the priest to marry them for life; and this we call handfasting. - Sir Walter Scott, The Monastery
- (rare) Strong; steadfast.
- The Nuttall Encyclopedia
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