fast

I. adjective Etymology: Middle English, from Old English fæst; akin to Old High German festi firm, Old Norse fastr, Armenian hast Date: before 12th century 1. a. firmly fixed <

roots fast in the ground

> b. tightly shut <

the drawers were fast

> c. adhering firmly d. not easily freed ; stuck <

a ball fast in the mouth of the cannon

> e. stable <

movable items were made fast to the deck

> 2. firmly loyal <

became fast friends

> 3. a. characterized by quick motion, operation, or effect: (1) moving or able to move rapidly ; swift (2) taking a comparatively short time (3) imparting quickness of motion <

a fast bowler

> (4) accomplished quickly (5) agile of mind; especially quick to learn <

a class for fast students

> b. conducive to rapidity of play or action c. (1) of a timepiece or weighing device indicating in advance of what is correct (2) according to or being daylight saving time d. contributing to a shortening of exposure time <

fast film

> e. acquired with unusually little effort and often by shady or dishonest methods <

had a keen eye for a fast buck — R. A. Keith

> 4. a. securely attached <

a rope fast to the wharf

> b. tenacious <

a fast hold on her purse

> 5. a. archaic sound asleep b. of sleep not easily disturbed 6. not fading or changing color readily 7. a. wild <

a pretty fast crowd

> b. sexually promiscuous 8. resistant to change (as from destructive action or fading) <

fast dyes

> — often used in combination <

sunfast

> <

acid-fast bacteria

> Synonyms: fast, rapid, swift, fleet, quick, speedy, hasty, expeditious mean moving, proceeding, or acting with celerity. fast and rapid are very close in meaning, but fast applies particularly to the thing that moves <

fast horses

> and rapid to the movement itself <

rapid current

>. swift suggests great rapidity coupled with ease of movement <

returned the ball with one swift stroke

>. fleet adds the implication of lightness and nimbleness <

fleet runners

>. quick suggests promptness and the taking of little time <

a quick wit

>. speedy implies quickness of successful accomplishment <

speedy delivery of mail

> and may also suggest unusual velocity. hasty suggests hurry and precipitousness and often connotes carelessness <

a hasty inspection

>. expeditious suggests efficiency together with rapidity of accomplishment <

the expeditious handling of an order

>. II. adverb Date: before 12th century 1. in a firm or fixed manner <

stuck fast

> 2. in a sound manner ; deeply <

fast asleep

> 3. a. in a rapid manner ; quickly b. in quick succession 4. in a reckless or dissipated manner 5. ahead of a correct time or schedule 6. archaic close, near III. intransitive verb Etymology: Middle English, from Old English fæstan Date: before 12th century 1. to abstain from food 2. to eat sparingly or abstain from some foods IV. noun Date: before 12th century 1. the practice of fasting 2. a time of fasting V. noun Etymology: alteration of Middle English fest, from Old Norse festr rope, mooring cable, from fastr firm Date: 15th century something that fastens (as a mooring line) or holds a fastening