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noun abstaining from food
fasting.
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verb abstain from certain foods, as for religious or medical reasons
- Catholics sometimes fast during Lent
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verb abstain from eating
- Before the medical exam, you must fast
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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
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adjective (used of timepieces) indicating a time ahead of or later than the correct time
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adjective at a rapid tempo
- the band played a fast fox trot
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adjective satellite (of surfaces) conducive to rapid speeds
- a fast road
- grass courts are faster than clay
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adjective satellite resistant to destruction or fading
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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
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adjective satellite hurried and brief
quick; flying.
- paid a flying visit
- took a flying glance at the book
- a quick inspection
- a fast visit
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adjective satellite securely fixed in place
firm; immobile.
- the post was still firm after being hit by the car
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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
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adjective satellite (of a photographic lens or emulsion) causing a shortening of exposure time
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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
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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.
Fast noun
Etymology
OF.
fust, F.
ft, fr. L.
fustis stick staff.
Definitions
- (Arch.) The shaft of a column, or trunk of pilaster.
Gwilt.
Webster 1913
Sharpen your Skills with the Masters
"Rowling never met an adverb she didn't like."
-Stephen King on J.K Rowling's excessive use of adverbs.
Fear not the Adverb Hell!