Standard Lemma guide
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
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noun
The quality or state of being fast (in various senses).
The quality or state of being strongly attached; firmness, secureness, tenacity.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
The quality or state of being fast (in various senses).
The quality or state of being strongly attached; firmness, secureness, tenacity.
The ability of a dye to withstand fading.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, specifically, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
The quality or state of being fast (in various senses).
The quality or state of moving quickly; quickness, rapidity, swiftness.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
The quality or state of being fast (in various senses).
The quality or state of having an extravagant lifestyle or immoral habits.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
The quality or state of being fast (in various senses).
Of a fortress or other place: the quality or state of being secure from access or attack; safety, security.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: archaic, countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
The quality or state of being fast (in various senses).
The quality or state of being firm, hard, or solid; firmness, hardness, solidity.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, obsolete, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Something that is fast, or that causes someone or something to be fast (in various senses).
A fortified or secure place; a fortress, a stronghold.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: also, countable, figuratively, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Something that is fast, or that causes someone or something to be fast (in various senses).
Something used to fasten or tie; a fastener or fastening.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, regional, uncountable
Qualifier: obsolete except UK
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
a strongly fortified defensive structure
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: stronghold
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: defensive structure, defense, defence
Narrower terms: bastion, citadel, blockhouse, hold, keep, donjon, dungeon, redoubt
noun
the quality of being fixed in place as by some firm attachment
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: fixedness, fixity, fixture, secureness
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: immovability, immovableness
Narrower terms: lodgment, lodgement, lodging
noun
a rate (usually rapid) at which something happens
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Synonyms: speed, swiftness
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: pace, rate
Narrower terms: haste, hastiness, hurry, hurriedness, precipitation, execution speed, graduality, gradualness
History
From Middle English fastnes, fastnesse (“immovableness, stability; firmness, solidness; secure attachment; constancy; obstinacy; something giving firmness or strength; of sleep: soundness; of a wound: healing; assurance, confirmation”) [and other forms], from Old English fæstnes (“fastness, firmness, stability; resolution; tenacity; vigour; firmament; fortification”) [and other forms], from fæst (“firm, stable; constant”) (from Proto-Germanic *fastuz (“firm, fixed; secure”); see further at that entry) + -nes (suffix forming abstract nouns denoting a quality or state). The English word may be analysed as fast + -ness.
Across languages
18 source translations are retained for this English entry.
