fast: Meaning, Definition, Usage - NiftyWord : NiftyWord

noun abstaining from food
fasting.
verb abstain from certain foods, as for religious or medical reasons
- Catholics sometimes fast during Lent
verb abstain from eating
- Before the medical exam, you must fast
adjective acting or moving or capable of acting or moving quickly
- fast film
- on the fast track in school
- set a fast pace
- a fast car
adjective (used of timepieces) indicating a time ahead of or later than the correct time
- my watch is fast
adjective at a rapid tempo
- the band played a fast fox trot
adjective satellite (of surfaces) conducive to rapid speeds
- a fast road
- grass courts are faster than clay
adjective satellite resistant to destruction or fading
- fast colors
adjective satellite unrestrained by convention or morality
debauched; libertine; dissolute; degenerate; degraded; dissipated; riotous; profligate.
- Congreve draws a debauched aristocratic society
- deplorably dissipated and degraded
- riotous living
- fast women
adjective satellite hurried and brief
quick; flying.
- paid a flying visit
- took a flying glance at the book
- a quick inspection
- a fast visit
adjective satellite securely fixed in place
firm; immobile.
- the post was still firm after being hit by the car
adjective satellite unwavering in devotion to friend or vow or cause
firm; loyal; truehearted.
- a firm ally
- loyal supporters
- the true-hearted soldier...of Tippecanoe"- Campaign song for William Henry Harrison
- fast friends
adjective satellite (of a photographic lens or emulsion) causing a shortening of exposure time
- a fast lens
adverb quickly or rapidly (often used as a combining form)
- how fast can he get here?
- ran as fast as he could
- needs medical help fast
- fast-running rivers
- fast-breaking news
- fast-opening (or fast-closing) shutters
adverb firmly or closely
tight.
- held fast to the rope
- her foot was stuck fast
- held tight

WordNet

Fast intransitive verb

Etymology

AS. f&ae;stan; akin to D. vasten, OHG. fasten, G. fasten, Icel. & Sw. fasta, Dan. faste, Goth. fastan to keep, observe, fast, and prob. to E. fast firm.

Wordforms

imperfect & past participle Fasted; present participle & verbal noun Fasting

Definitions

To abstain from food; to omit to take nourishment in whole or in part; to go hungry.
Fasting he went to sleep, and fasting waked. Milton.
To practice abstinence as a religious exercise or duty; to abstain from food voluntarily for a time, for the mortification of the body or appetites, or as a token of grief, or humiliation and penitence.
Thou didst fast and weep for the child. 2 Sam. xii. 21.

Fast noun

Etymology

OE. faste, fast; cf. AS. fsten, OHG. fasta, G. faste. See Fast, v. i.

Definitions

Abstinence from food; omission to take nounrishment.
Surfeit is the father of much fast. Shak.
Voluntary abstinence from food, for a space of time, as a spiritual discipline, or as a token of religious humiliation.
A time of fasting, whether a day, week, or longer time; a period of abstinence from food or certain kinds of food; as, an annual fast. Shak.

Fast adjective

Etymology

OE., firm, strong, not loose, AS. fst; akin to OS. fast, D. vast, OHG. fasti, festi, G. fest, Isel. fastr, Sw. & Dan. fast, and perh. to E. fetter. The sense swift comes from the idea of keeping close to what is pursued; a Scandinavian use. Cf. Fast, adv., Fast, v., Avast.

Wordforms

comparative Faster ; superlative Fastest

Definitions

Firmly fixed; closely adhering; made firm; not loose, unstable, or easily moved; immovable; as, to make fast the door.
There is an order that keeps things fast. Burke.
Firm against attack; fortified by nature or art; impregnable; strong.
Outlaws . . . lurking in woods and fast places. Spenser.
Firm in adherence; steadfast; not easily separated or alienated; faithful; as, a fast friend.
Permanent; not liable to fade by exposure to air or by washing; durable; lasting; as, fast colors.
Tenacious; retentive. Obs.
Roses, damask and red, are fast flowers of their smells. Bacon.
Not easily disturbed or broken; deep; sound.
All this while in a most fast sleep. Shak.
Moving rapidly; quick in mition; rapid; swift; as, a fast horse.
Given to pleasure seeking; disregardful of restraint; reckless; wild; dissipated; dissolute; as, a fast man; a fast liver. Thackeray.

Fast adverb

Etymology

OE. Faste firmly, strongly, quickly, AS. faste. See Fast, a.

Definitions

In a fast, fixed, or firmly established manner; fixedly; firmly; immovably.
We will bind thee fast. Judg. xv. 13.
In a fast or rapid manner; quickly; swiftly; extravagantly; wildly; as, to run fast; to live fast.
He, after Eve seduced, unminded slunk Into the wood fast by. Milton.

Fast by the throne obsequious Fame resides. Pope.

Fast noun

Definitions

That which fastens or holds; especially, (Naut.) a mooring rope, hawser, or chain; -- called, according to its position, a bow, head, quarter, breast, or stern fast; also, a post on a pier around which hawsers are passed in mooring.