handfast

American  

[hand-fast, -fahst] / ˈhændˌfæst, -ˌfɑst /

noun

1. Archaic. a covenant or contract, especially a betrothal, usually completed by a handclasp.

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handfast British  

/ ˈhændˌfɑːst /

noun

1. an agreement, esp of marriage, confirmed by a handshake

2. a firm grip

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verb

1. to betroth or marry (two persons or another person) by joining the hands

2. 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

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

handfast

And anon he made them handfast, and wedded them.

From Le Mort d'Arthur: Volume 2 by Sir Thomas Malory

Then they assembled together to Bakhtzaman, and made a covenant and handfast of fealty with him and fell upon the foe and slew him and seated King Bakhtzaman again on the throne of his kingship.

From The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night — Volume 11 [Supplement] by Sir Richard Francis Burton

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

Yea, ye are mine, we are handfast wed, One with another.

From Poems and Ballads (Third Series) Taken from The Collected Poetical Works of Algernon Charles Swinburne—Vol. III by Algernon Charles Swinburne

"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

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