Fast

F'AST, a.

1. Literally, set, stopped, fixed, or pressed close. Hence, close tight as, make fast the door take fast hold.

2. Firm immovable.

Who by his strength, setteth fast the mountains. Psalms 115 .

3. Close strong.

Robbers and outlaws - lurking in woods and fast places.

4. Firmly fixed closely adhering as, to stick fast in more to make fast a rope.

5. Close, as sleep deep sound as a fast sleep.

6. Firm in adherence as a fast friend.

Fast and loose, variable inconstant as, to play fast and loose.

F'AST, adv. Firmly immovably.

We will bind thee fast, and deliver thee into their hand. Judges 15 .

F'AST, a. L. festino. The sense is to press, drive, urge, and it may be from the same root as the preceding word, with a different application.

Swift moving rapidly quick in motion as a fast horse.

F'AST, adv. Swiftly rapidly with quick steps or progression as, to run fast to move fast through the water, as a ship the work goes on fast.

F'AST,

1. To abstain from food, beyond the usual time to omit to take the usual meals, for a time as, to fast a day or a week.

2. To abstain from food voluntarily, for the mortification of the body or appetites, or as a token of grief, sorrow and affliction.

Thou didst fast and weep for the child. 2 Samuel 12 .

When ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance. Matthew 6 .

3. To abstain from food partially, or from particular kinds of food as, the Catholics fast in Lent.

F'AST, n.

1. Abstinence from food properly a total abstinence, but it is used also for an abstinence from particular kinds of food, for a certain time.

Happy were our forefathers, who broke their fasts with herbs.

2. Voluntary abstinence from food, as a religious mortification or humiliation either total or partial abstinence from customary food, with a view to mortify the appetites, or to express grief and affliction on account of some calamity, or to deprecate an expected evil.

3. The time of fasting, whether a day, week or longer time. An annual fast is kept in New England, usually one day in the spring.

The fast was now already past. Acts 27 .

F'AST, n. That which fastens or holds.