handfastn.
/ˈhan(d)fɑːst/, /ˈhan(d)fast/, U.S. /ˈhæn(d)ˌfæst/ 1.
a. Firm hold or grip with the hands. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > absence of movement > hold or holding > [noun] > firmness of hold > grip or grasp
gripOE
handgripOE
holtc1375
cleeka1400
handfast1540
handy-gripe1542
handigrip1579
gripple1596
fang1597
grasp1609
clutch1785
death grip1792
1540 R. Jonas tr. E. Roesslin Byrth of Mankynde i. f. xxxv That parte of the whiche she hathe handfast [L. ea pars quae ab obstetrice comprehensa est].
1582 N. Lichefield tr. F. L. de Castanheda 1st Bk. Hist. Discouerie E. Indias xxxiii. 81 a He could not escape, forsomuch as our men caught handefast of him.
1614 A. Gorges tr. Lucan Pharsalia iv. 123 The place were crag'd & steepe, Where footing failes, they crawle & creepe: And when they hold or handfast lackes, Others with shields support their backes.
1622 R. Hawkins Observ. Voiage South Sea xxx. 69 Such were the blowes he gaue them with his Pinnions, as both left their hand-fast, being beaten blacke and blew.
b. in handfast: in custody, under arrest. Obsolete. rare.
ΚΠ
a1616 W. Shakespeare Winter's Tale (1623) iv. iv. 768 If that Shepheard be not in hand-fast, let him flye. View more context for this quotation
1863 ‘C. Waters’ Autobiogr. Eng. Detective II. 215 Mr. Bouverie first placed in hand-fast.
2. figurative. Secure grasp or hold of something abstract. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > absence of movement > hold or holding > [noun] > firmness of hold > grip or grasp > firm or secure grasp or hold
handfast?1548
holdfast1578
cincha1910
?1548 A. Gilby Answer Deuillish Detection S. Gardiner f. lxxxix You go frome your shote anchor (this is my bodie) and other handfast I can se you take none.
1555 J. Philpot Let. in J. Foxe Actes & Monuments (1570) II. 2012/2 You might seeme to haue good handfast of your opinion.
1577 H. Bull tr. M. Luther Comm. 15 Psalmes 29 By faith to lay sure handfast on Gods eternall mercy and grace.
1602 T. Lodge tr. Josephus Wks. 561 He tooke handfast of that opportunitie he had offered him, to reuenge himselfe.
3. A handle by which something is held. Also figurative. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > equipment > tool > parts of tools generally > [noun] > handle
handleeOE
helvec897
haftc1000
steal1377
start1380
handa1400
helmc1430
handlinga1450
pull1551
grasp1561
hilt1574
cronge1577
hold1578
tab1607
manubrium1609
tree1611
handfast1638
stock1695
handing1703
gripe1748
stem1796
handhold1797
grip1867
1638 J. Taylor Bull, Beare, & Horse sig. B5 The Bell Ropes, which the Countrey people that used to Ring, had (for the ease of their hands) made wispes, or wads of Hay fast round about the hand-fasts or handles of the Ropes.
a1656 J. Hales Golden Remains (1659) i. 50 If we search it, we shall find, some hand-fast, some circumstance, that will make it easie to be born.
1723 J. Dart Westmonasterium I. 63 His Shield, which is small, the Handfast broken away.
1893 S. Baring-Gould Cheap Jack Zita I. xi. 180 The leather thongs that attached the flapper to the handfast were twisted.
II. Senses relating to the making of a contract or agreement.† 4. The action of joining hands in making an agreement. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > speech > agreement > [noun] > involving the joining of hands, etc.
handbanda1400
handfast1568
thumb-licking1773
1568 Abp. M. Parker in Bible (Bishops') f. xiij (heading) They assure a couenaunt betwene them with handefast.
a1632 T. Middleton & J. Webster Any Thing for Quiet Life (1662) v. sig. G4v A firm Covenant, sign'd and seal'd by oath and handfast.
5. A contract or agreement; spec. a betrothal or marriage contract. Occasionally also (esp. in later use): an uncanonical, private, or probationary marriage, or one contracted in a neopagan ceremony (see handfasting n. 2). Now chiefly historical.
ΘΚΠ
society > society and the community > kinship or relationship > marriage or wedlock > betrothal > [noun]
truthc1300
betrothingc1315
truthingc1350
espousala1393
troth-plighta1393
desponsationa1400
troth-plightingc1400
ensurance1469
fiançailles1477
handfasting1483
assurancea1513
assuring1530
suring1530
contract1551
insurancea1556
trothing1565
despousage1570
betrothment1585
contracting1585
affiancing1596
spousage1596
espousage1599
handfasta1616
desponsories1645
hand-fastening1662
disposories1668
contraction1702
engagement1811
plightage1819
betrothal1844
heart-bond1887
introduction1965
kwanjula1973
a1616 W. Shakespeare Cymbeline (1623) i. v. 78 The Remembrancer of her, to hold The hand-fast to her Lord. View more context for this quotation
a1627 W. Rowley & T. Middleton Wit at Severall Weapons v. i, in F. Beaumont & J. Fletcher Comedies & Trag. (1647) sig. Lllll4/2 Here in Heavens eye, and all loves sacred powers..I knit this holy hand fast, and with this hand The heart that owes this hand, ever binding..Both heart and hand in love, faith, loyalty.
1872 E. W. Robertson Hist. Ess. 175 In its original acceptation the word handfast simply meant a contract of any sort, though it seems to have been gradually applied almost exclusively to a marriage contract.
1884 J. Payne tr. Tales from Arabic I. 119 Then they assembled together..and made a covenant and handfast of fealty with him.
1918 W. Hay Escape of Notorious Sir William Heans ii. v. 150 Who will arrange a meeting for two who were old lovers once—or a hand-fast with her husband, once your friend!
1985 J. R. Gillis For Better, for Worse i. 20 The church's own courts recognized that..the various forms of betrothal—spousals, handfasts, trothplights, contracts—represented a valid marriage.
1996 C. J. Stone Fierce Dancing xi. 162 The ceremony took place under the Flat Oak. She described it as a ‘handfast’, which is pagan-speak for a wedding.
2009 M. McCarty Highland Outlaw xxi. 339 I offered him the tenancy of the land near Loch Earn and his freedom if he would repudiate the handfast.
Compounds
ΚΠ
1610 P. Holland tr. W. Camden Brit. i. 388 Britona, hand-fast-maker shee, All clad in Laurell green.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2013; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
handfastadj.
/ˈhan(d)fɑːst/, /ˈhan(d)fast/, U.S. /ˈhæn(d)ˌfæst/ I. Senses relating to grasping, holding, or binding.† 1. Having the hands bound or shackled; manacled. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > subjection > restraint or restraining > restraint depriving of liberty > binding or fettering > [adjective] > bound, fettered, or shackled > by the hands or arms
handfastc1410
pinioned1567
manacled1586
handboundc1604
handcuffed1742
c1410 (c1350) Gamelyn (Harl. 7334) l. 437 Thow schalt stonde vp by þe post as þou were hond-fast, And i schal leue hem vnloke awey þou may hem cast.
1611 R. Cotgrave Dict. French & Eng. Tongues Emmanoté, manacled, handfast.
1632 W. Lithgow Totall Disc. Trav. x. 463 At last being loosed from these Pinnacles of paine, I was hand-fast set on the floore.
1881 M. C. Rowsell Jeannette II. xix. 313 A thing which, made in baser metal, was in form and size for all the world like those bands that bind unwilling captives handfast.
2. Having a firm grip of the hand; (of a grip or hold) firm, fast, tight. Also figurative. Hence: tight-fisted, mean, lacking in generosity. Cf. handfastness n. Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > possession > retaining > niggardliness or meanness > [adjective]
gnedec900
gripplea1000
fastOE
narrow-hearteda1200
narrow?c1225
straitc1290
chinchc1300
nithinga1325
scarcec1330
clama1340
hard1340
scantc1366
sparingc1386
niggardc1400
chinchy?1406
retentivea1450
niggardousa1492
niggish1519
unliberal1533
pinching1548
dry1552
nigh1555
niggardly1560
churlish1566
squeamish1566
niggardish1567
niggard-like1567
holding1569
spare1577
handfast1578
envious1580
close-handed1585
hard-handed1587
curmudgeonly1590
parsimonious?1591
costive1594
hidebound1598
penny-pinching1600
penurious1600
strait-handed1600
club-fisted1601
dry-fisted1604
fast-handed1605
fast-fingered1607
close-fisted1608
near1611
scanting1613
carkingc1620
illiberal1623
clutch-fisteda1634
hideboundeda1640
clutch-fista1643
clunch-fisted1644
unbounteous1645
hard-fisted1646
purse-bound1652
close1654
stingy1659
tenacious1676
scanty1692
sneaking1696
gripe-handed1698
narrow-souled1699
niggardling1704
snippy1727
unindulgent1742
shabby1766
neargoinga1774
cheesemongering1781
split-farthing1787
save-all1788
picked1790
iron-fisted1794
unhandsome1800
scaly1803
nearbegoing1805
tight1805
nippit1808
nipcheese1819
cumin-splitting1822
partan-handed1823
scrimping1823
scrumptious1823
scrimpy1825
meanly1827
skinny1833
pinchfisted1837
mean1840
tight-fisted1843
screwy1844
stinty1849
cheeseparing1857
skinflinty1886
mouly1904
mingy1911
cheapskate1912
picey1937
tight-assed1961
chintzy1964
tightwad1976
society > morality > duty or obligation > recognition of duty > faithfulness or trustworthiness > fidelity or loyalty > [adjective] > firm or constant
wholea1375
constantc1425
feal1568
handfast1578
blue?1636
firm1705
as true as flint1847
the world > movement > absence of movement > hold or holding > [adjective] > having a firm grip of the hand
handfast1887
1578 W. Hilton tr. Urbanus Regius Serm. Christ on Way to Emaus f. 148v Seing then the kingdome of Christ is a hidden kingdome of fayth vnder the crosse, it is needfull that we lay good handfast hold of the word of God.
1597 N. Breton Wil of Wit f. 67v Some will say, Women are couetous, are not men as handfast?
1614 T. Wilson Comm. Epist. S. Paul to Romanes xv. 1230 Rich men..are eyther illiberall and handfast, sparing too much; or prodigall and wastefull, spending too much.
1845 T. Carlyle in O. Cromwell Lett. & Speeches I. 26 Ludlow a common handfast, honest, dull and indeed partly wooden man.
1887 W. D. Parish & W. F. Shaw Dict. Kentish Dial. (at cited word) ‘Old George is middlin' handfast today’ (said of a good catch at cricket).
1914 Independent (N.Y.) 19 Jan. 105/1 Incidentally we have pictures of the battlefield—the fiery charge, the hand-fast cling of wild, mad fighting and the dolorous year-long waiting in the hospital bed for the mending arm or leg.
1952 S. O'Casey Rose & Crown 49 Ancestry had long since lost its handfast hold of man's mind.
II. Senses relating to betrothal, alliance, or agreement.
3. Promised in marriage by the joining of hands; betrothed. Also: joined in an uncanonical, private, or (esp. in Scotland) probationary marriage (see handfasting n. 2), or (now) in a neopagan ceremony.
ΘΚΠ
society > society and the community > kinship or relationship > marriage or wedlock > betrothal > [adjective] > betrothed
troth-plighta1300
handfasta1470
assured1474
desponsate1483
handfasted1535
contracted1548
betrothed1557
trothed1567
affianced1574
affied1591
contract1597
combinatea1616
desponsated1623
troth-contracted1633
troth1844
engaged1869
c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 2389 Ȝho [sc. the Virgin Mary] wass hanndfesst an god mann Þatt iosæp wass ȝehatenn.]
a1470 T. Malory Morte Darthur (Winch. Coll. 13) (1990) II. 642 Anone he made them honde-faste and wedded them.
1484 in J. T. Fowler Acts Church SS. Peter & Wilfrid, Ripon (1875) 162 (note) I take the Margaret to my handfest wif.
1532 T. More Confut. Tyndale in Wks. 728/1 Vpon the day when they should haue been made handefaste and ensured together.
a1600 R. Lindsay Hist. & Cron. Scotl. (1899) I. 64 This Issobel was hand fast witht him and deceissit befor the marieage.
1610 P. Holland tr. W. Camden Brit. i. 384 Tame and Isis meeting in one streame become hand-fast (as it were) and joyned in Wedlocke.
1870 E. S. Dallas Once Week 4 June 392/2 A deadly feud between the Macdonalds of Islay and Macleods of Skye..arose from a handfast wife being sent back by Macdonald, at the end of a twelvemonth, to her father.
1923 C. M. Doughty Mansoul 143 Or when some handfast maiden shall be wed, To her true love.
a1974 G. Heyer My Lord John (1975) i. vi. 103 She was handfast to Salisbury.
2004 Record (Kitchener-Waterloo, Ont.) (Nexis) 10 July b5 He will be sadly and deeply missed by his handfast partner, Wanda.
4. figurative. Solemnly bound; firmly attached or allied (to or with another). Frequently (esp. in early use) applied to one dedicated to Christ. Formerly also: †meticulous, precise, fastidious (obsolete).
ΚΠ
1538 R. Taverner tr. Erasmus Sarcerius Common Places of Script. xlix. f. clxxxiii The spouse performeth all these thinges truly & is made handfast by tholy ghoste, yet is she not called euen for these workes sake a church immaculate.
1546 J. Bale Actes Eng. Votaryes: 1st Pt. f. 63 A vyrgyne made handefast to Christ.
a1600 R. Hooker Learned Serm. Faith in Elect (1612) 11 That whom the blessed Apostle knewe betroathed and made handfast vnto Christ, to them he could not write but with great trembling.
1641 W. Prynne Antipathie ii. iv. 228 You that have not feared to corrupt a Virgin maide hand fast to Christ, presume you to touch the consecrated hand of a Bishop?
1848 T. Carlyle Let. 14 Aug. (1904) II. 62 There..is a most handfast statement of the case, drawn up by me today.
1893 Macmillan's Mag. 68 232/2 Must love always be handfast to something else? Or was it possible for it to exist,..absolutely free and content in itself?
1900 Navy & Army Illustr. 22 Sept. 20/1 Men were heard asking why the staff did not order a retreat, instead of waiting for the now handfast British and Prussians to force a rout.
1911 ‘M. Field’ Dian i. iv, in Trag. Pardon 169 Footsteps this way—steps of a messenger? No, my fantastic sculptor paces night Alone, or as if handfast with the moon.
2005 D. Gabaldon Breath of Snow & Ashes lvii. 522 So now you're sort of handfast with God, is that it?
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2013; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
handfastv.
/ˈhan(d)fɑːst/, /ˈhan(d)fast/, U.S. /ˈhæn(d)ˌfæst/α. late Old English gehandfæst (past participle), early Middle English hanndfesst ( Ormulum, past participle), early Middle English ihondfæst (south-west midlands, past participle), Middle English anfest, Middle English hondfest, Middle English–1500s handfeste, 1500s handfest (past tense and past participle), 1500s handfeste (past participle), 1500s–1600s handfest.
β. late Middle English–1600s handfast (past participle), 1500s handfaste, 1500s hanfast, 1500s– handfast; Scottish pre-1700 hanfast, pre-1700 1700s– handfast, pre-1700 1800s handfast (past participle), 1900s– haanfast (north-eastern).
I. Senses relating to contracting or betrothing.† 4. transitive. figurative. To give as an earnest or foretaste. Obsolete. rare.
1.
a. transitive. To promise formally (a person, esp. a woman) in marriage to another; to make a contract of marriage between (two people); to betroth. Frequently in passive. Chiefly with to (also unto). Now historical and archaic.Sometimes (esp. in Scotland): to make a probationary marriage with (a person) or between (two people).In quot. lOE with dative indirect object.
ΘΚΠ
society > society and the community > kinship or relationship > marriage or wedlock > betrothal > betroth [verb (transitive)]
handfastlOE
spousea1225
spousec1300
truthc1330
sickerc1384
assure1393
ensurea1450
fiancea1450
affya1500
insure1530
affiance1531
promise1548
betroth1566
espouse1581
contract1599
engage1728
lOE tr. R. d'Escures Sermo in Festis Sancte Marie Virginis in R. D.-N. Warner Early Eng. Homilies (1917) 135 For þeh heo Josepe gehandfæst wære, þehhweðere he hæfde anrædlice on hire gemynte, þæt heo næfre weres gemænnysse nolde cunnen.
c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 2389 Ȝho wass hanndfesst an god mann Þatt iosæp wass ȝehatenn.
1474 W. Caxton tr. Game & Playe of Chesse (1883) ii. i. 25 A right fair mayde..whiche was assurid and handfast unto a noble yong gentillman of cartage.
c1480 (a1400) St. Cecilia 16 in W. M. Metcalfe Legends Saints Sc. Dial. (1896) II. 368 Scho..ves handfast vith a ȝungmane, þat in maryag vald hire haf tan.
1530 Bible (Tyndale) Deut. xxii. f. xl Yf a mayde be hanfasted vnto an husbonde, and then a man finde her in the towne and leye with her, [etc.].
1541 M. Coverdale tr. H. Bullinger Christen State Matrimonye f. xlviiiv Euery man lykewise must esteme the parsone to whom he is handfasted, none otherwise, then for his owne spouse, though as yet it be not done in the church ner in the strete.
1573 in J. Raine Depositions Courts Durham (1845) 242 Lancelott Eyttes, the said Janett grandfather, dyd handfast them.
1624 T. Heywood Γυναικεῖον vii. 337 The Auspices of Auguries were Southsayers and such as used to handfast or contract marriages.
1726 W. Gordon Hist. Family Gordon I. 39 John was not married to that Lady, but only hand-fasted to her; and he married Maitland of Gight's Daughter.
1808 J. Jamieson Etymol. Dict. Sc. Lang. To handfast, to betrothe by joining hands, in order to cohabitation, before the celebration of marriage.
1849 J. Grant Mem. Kirkaldy ix. 90 Margaret, daughter of Lord Crichton, to whom he had been betrothed or hand-fasted.
1905 W. Magnay Prince of Lovers x. 87 And love had seemed so far off, so little to be hoped for now that she was to be hand-fasted to a man whom she had never seen.
1989 M. Z. Bradley Heirs of Hammerfell ii. 26 They had been handfasted when they were but twelve years old.
2009 S.-E. Welfonder Seducing Sc. Bride iii. 67 You wish him to handfast us?
b. transitive. figurative and in figurative context. Now rare.
ΚΠ
?a1425 (a1415) Lanterne of Liȝt (Harl.) (1917) 35 Crist Iesu..was borne boþe God & man to anfest oure kynde to his godheed.
a1555 L. Saunders in M. Coverdale Certain Lett. Martyrs (1564) 190 He hath..handfasted vs hys chosen children vnto hys deare sonne our Christ.
1569 A. Golding tr. N. Hemmingsen Postill (new ed.) f. 289v The Churche is handfasted and betrouthed too Chryst hir Bridegroome, by faith.
1631 J. Mabbe tr. F. de Rojas Spanish Bawd vii. 81 If you will but hand-fast your affections each to other.
1680 G. Hickes Spirit of Popery 7 Mr. Andrew Cant..called unto them to come, and be hand-fasted unto Christ by Subscribing the Contract.
1902 Atlantic Monthly Jan. 21/1 Would the lass but consent to go abroad in the unhallowed place at this awful season and hour of the night, she was as firmly handfasted to the devil as if she had signed a bond with her own blood.
1915 M. Hewlett Lovers' Tale iii. 14 The sea-blue bird that Hashing flies Like a sword down the river-bed Links the green earth and azure skies; And so with me is Stangerd wed, When light with light is handfasted.
2. transitive. Of a man: to engage in a marriage contract with (a woman); (also reflexive) to promise oneself in marriage to or †unto a woman. Also figurative. Now historical and archaic.Sometimes (esp. in Scotland) with reference to a form of probationary marriage.In quot. 1926 the speaker is a man addressing a woman. [Quot. c1275 has sometimes been alternatively interpreted as showing a prepositional phrase i hondfæst (compare β. forms at in prep. and later handfast n. 5) rather than a prefixed past participle i-hondfæst , but this seems unlikely; compare the parallel past participle ipliþt in the variant reading, and also the lack of any independent Middle English evidence for handfast n.]
ΘΚΠ
society > society and the community > kinship or relationship > marriage or wedlock > betrothal > betroth [verb (transitive)] > engage oneself to
handfastc1275
betroth1303
trotha1400
troth-plighta1400
fiance1483
contract1735
society > society and the community > kinship or relationship > marriage or wedlock > betrothal > betroth [verb (reflexive)]
affiance1609
handfast1611
c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1963) l. 1126 He heo hæfde i hond-fæst [c1300 Otho he hire hafde trouþe ipliþt] at-foren his hired monnen.
1498 in H. Rose & L. Shaw Geneal. Deduction Family Rose of Kilravock (1848) 167 That the said James..sall spovs and haiff to wyff Alyn.., and incontinent at the seilling..of thir indentoris sall..hanfast the said Alyn, as law will.
1518 H. Watson tr. Hystorye Olyuer of Castylle xlviii. sig. L.iij (heading) How ye kynge made Olyuer for to aryse that was on his knees, and of ye gracyous wordes that he sayd to his doughter, and how Olyuer handfest her.
1577 R. Holinshed Hist. Scotl. 412/1 in Chron. I Which Earle by letters of procuracie..affied and handfasted the foresayde Ladie Margaret in all solemne wise.
1611 R. Cotgrave Dict. French & Eng. Tongues Accorder vne fille, to handfast, affiance, betroath himselfe vnto a maiden.
1611 J. Speed Hist. Great Brit. ix. xx. 747/1 The Earle of Bothwell did openly handfast, or espouse the said faire Lady, in the name of King Iames at Pauls Crosse.
c1650 (a1500) Eger & Grime (Percy) (1933) 310 Gryme handfasted that faire Ladye.
1666 W. Sancroft Lex Ignea 40 We list not to hand-fast ourselves to God Almighty.
1851 J. Grant Bothwell II. xiv. 182 'Tis but marrying the Lady Jane, and handfasting the Lady Anna.
1926 L. Coutts Lyrics, Ballads, & Satires 30 Haan-fast me, an I'll feast ye weel On ane o my lairdie's pheasints.
1998 V. Henley Year & Day xix. 263 Why was he not eager for her company? It was because of the little slut he had handfasted.
3. intransitive. Chiefly with with. To become engaged to a person; spec. (esp. in Scotland) to enter into a probationary marriage with a person (see handfasting n. 2).
ΘΚΠ
society > society and the community > kinship or relationship > marriage or wedlock > betrothal > engage oneself to marry [verb (intransitive)]
to plight (also pledge) (one's) troth?c1225
truthc1350
handfast1547
contract1660
engage1722
1547 in W. Cramond Rec. Elgin (1903) I. 92 That gif it hapins to ony vedov..to mare without lecence of the provest,..the said vedow handfastand or mereand incontinent sche sall tyne hir fredoum [etc.].
1820 W. Scott Monastery III. viii. 212 Some busy devil tempted the old man to meddle with my master's Christian liberty of hand-fasting with Catherine of Newport.
1850 Notes & Queries 1st Ser. 2 151/2 John Mac-Vic Ewen..had handfasted (as it was called) with a daughter of Mac Ian of Ardnamurchan.
1907 Celtic Rev. 15 Jan. 218 He handfasted with a Maclean woman by whom he had two or three sons, the second of whom was known as Niall Og.
1996 J. Roberson Lady of Glen (1997) 363 Here was his daughter..who handfasted with one of those sons.
ΚΠ
1630 H. Lord Display Two Forraigne Sects Introd. Handfesting the Reader with as good hopes, as may bee expected from a subject of this nature.
II. Senses relating to grasping, holding, or binding.† 5. transitive. To grasp, seize with the hand; to take firm hold of. In earliest use figurative. Also intransitive. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > absence of movement > hold or holding > hold [verb (transitive)] > lay hold of or grasp
i-fangc888
gripc950
repeOE
befongOE
keepc1000
latchc1000
hentOE
begripec1175
becatchc1200
fang?c1200
i-gripea1225
warpa1225
fastenc1225
arepa1250
to set (one's) hand(s onc1290
kip1297
cleach?a1300
hendc1300
fasta1325
reachc1330
seizec1374
beclipc1380
takea1387
span1398
to seize on or upon1399
getc1440
handc1460
to catch hold1520
to take hold1530
to lay hold (up)on, of1535
grasple1553
to have by the backa1555
handfast1562
apprehend1572
grapple1582
to clap hold of1583
comprehend1584
graspa1586
attach1590
gripple1591
engrasp1593
clum1594
to seize of1600
begriple1607
fast hold1611
impalm1611
fista1616
to set (one's) hand to1638
to get one's hands on1649
1562 W. Bullein Dial. Sorenes f. 25v, in Bulwarke of Defence A newe labour and care will handfaste you.
1577 H. Rhodes Bk. Nurture (new ed.) sig. Ciiv Learne thou to handfast honesty.
1596 W. Warner Albions Eng. (rev. ed.) x. lx. 264 Euen this grand-Captaine of the Hosts..Hand-fasting now the Altar, clames that Priuiledge in vaine.
1602 R. Carew Surv. Cornwall i. f. 74 The Hurler against the ball, must not but, nor hand-fast vnder girdle.
1625 P. Heylyn Μικρόκοσμος (rev. ed.) 358 One of the children hand-fasted the speare.
6. transitive. To bind or shackle by the hands; to manacle. Now rare.In quot. 1900: (perhaps) to arrest, place in custody (cf. handfast n. 1b).In quot. handfast adj. 3 as part of a handfasting ceremony (see handfasting n. 2).
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > subjection > restraint or restraining > restraint depriving of liberty > binding or fettering > bind, fetter, or shackle [verb (transitive)] > by the hands or arms
manaclea1350
pinion1556
handfast1587
handlock1587
pinno1596
immanacle1637
handcuff1649
cuff1693
hand-bolt1702
1587 J. Hooker Chron. Ireland 134/2 in Holinshed's Chron. (new ed.) II He was taken prisoner, and handfasted, and so kept for a space.
1611 R. Cotgrave Dict. French & Eng. Tongues Emmanoter, to manacle; to handfast, or tie the hands together.
1824 J. Hogg Private Mem. Justified Sinner 137 While we were hand-fasting him, I felt his body to be feeble and emaciated.
1848 T. Wright Hist. Ireland (1849) I. iv. iv. 458/1 Rory caused his two prisoners to be ‘hand-fasted’ together, and dragged them along with him in a sort of barbarous triumph.
1900 J. B. Bury Hist. Greece xviii. 797 Callisthenes was also handfasted on the charge of being an accomplice, and was afterwards hanged.
2006 N.Y. Times (National ed.) 10 Sept. ix. 23/2 They were handfast, that is, their wrists were bound with a cord by..a minister of the Healing Light Center Church, reflecting the ancient tradition of ‘tying the knot’.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2013; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1540adj.c1410v.lOE- prematurities
- prematurity
- prematutinal
- premaxilla
- premaxillae
- premaxillaries
- premaxillary
- premaxillo-maxillary
- premaxillomaxillary
- premeasure
- premeasured
- premeasures
- premeasuring
- premed
- premedder
- premeddest
- premeder
- premedest
- premedial
- premedian
- premediate
- premedical
- premedicant
- premedicate
- premedicated