handfast
Americannoun
noun
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an agreement, esp of marriage, confirmed by a handshake
-
a firm grip
verb
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to betroth or marry (two persons or another person) by joining the hands
-
to grip with the hand
Etymology
Origin of handfast
1150–1200; Middle English (past participle), earlier handfest < Scandinavian; compare Old Norse handfestr, past participle of handfesta to betroth with a joining of hands, equivalent to hand hand + festa to betroth, literally, make fast, fasten
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
“Please it you, Mistress Winter, I am handfast to wedlock; and he that shall be mine husband it is that I have talked withal this even.”
From For the Master's Sake A Story of the Days of Queen Mary by Horace Petherick
Heart handfast in heart as they stood, "Look thither," Did he, whisper?
From The Home Book of Verse — Volume 3 by Burton Egbert Stevenson
"A Candidatus Theoligiae, your Majesty," answered a handfast threadbare youth one day, when questioned in this manner.—"Where from?"
From History of Friedrich II of Prussia — Volume 04 by Thomas Carlyle
Heart handfast in heart as they stood, "Look thither," Did he whisper?
From The Ontario Readers: The High School Reader, 1886 by Ontario. Ministry of Education
And anon he made them handfast, and wedded them.
From Le Mort d'Arthur: Volume 2 by Sir Thomas Malory
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
