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

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

handfast

“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 Petherick, Horace

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 Burton, Richard Francis, Sir

And anon he made them handfast, and wedded them.

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

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 Swinburne, Algernon Charles

“Noughts and crosses hades horrify handfast holy ostrich.”

From Zero the Slaver A Romance of Equatorial Africa by Fletcher, Lawrence