fast English · revision 3462

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /fɑːst/, US /fæst/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ {{homograph|1|firm, quick}}

+

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=before 900 (Alfred)|origins=gem-pro *fastuz}}

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The adjective is [[inh|enm|fast]], [[inh|ang|fæst|t=firmly fixed, steadfast; secure, strong]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(MW Collegiate) from [[gem-pro|*fastuz]].^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) Its cognates include [[ofs|fest]], [[osx|fast]], [[nl|vast]], [[de|fest]] and [[non|fastr]].^(Barnhart 1988)^(SOED 2002)^(Klein 1966) Etymonline traces it to [[ine-pro|*past-|t=firm, solid]], comparing Armenian hast “firm” and Sanskrit pastyā “dwelling”.^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)^(Klein 1966) The adverb is from Old English [[m|ang|fæste|t=firmly, securely]].^(Etymonline)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Firmly fixed, steadfast: Old English ''fæst'', before 900, in Alfred's translation of Boethius,^(Barnhart 1988) or about 888.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Word Origins notes that the old meaning survives in ''colour-fast'' and ''make a rope fast'', and in [[fasten]].^(Cresswell 2021) The adverb meant “quickly” by about 1200, perhaps under the influence of Old Norse ''fast'' “firmly, hard”: Etymonline explains that the sense moved from “firmly, vigorously” to “quickly”, as ''run hard'' means ''run fast''.^(Etymonline) The adjective “rapid, quick” is from the 1550s, from the adverb,^(Etymonline) or the 16th century.^(Hoad 1986) ''Fast asleep'' keeps the sense “firmly”.^(Etymonline) Of colours it is from the 1650s, and of clocks from 1840.^(Etymonline) “Living an unrestrained life, pursuing pleasure” is from 1746.^(Etymonline) ''Fast buck'' is from 1947, ''fast food'' by 1951, and ''fast lane'' by 1966.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * before 900 – Old English ''fæst'', firm.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 1200 – adverb, quickly.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1550s – adjective, quick.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1650s – of colours.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1746 – dissipated.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1840 – of clocks.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1951 – ''fast food''.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Moving or able to move quickly; [[swift]]; done in a short time.^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+ # Of a clock, ahead of the correct time.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # Firmly fixed or fastened; secure; of colours, not likely to fade.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # Loyal: ''fast friends''.^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+ # Given to pleasure-seeking; [[dissipated]].^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ===Adverb===

+ # Quickly, rapidly.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # Firmly, securely; deeply: ''fast asleep''.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[fasten]]

+ * [[fastness]]

+ * [[steadfast]]

+ * [[fast food]]

+ * [[fast-forward]]

+ * [[fast track]]

+ * [[colourfast]]

+

+ {{homograph|2|abstain from food}}

+

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=971 (Old English fæstan)|origins=gem-pro *fastaną}}

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The verb is [[inh|enm|fasten]], [[inh|ang|fæstan|t=to fast as a religious duty; to make firm]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(SOED 2002) from [[gem-pro|*fastaną|t=to hold, guard]],^(Etymonline) from the same root as [[fast#1]].^(Etymonline)^(Klein 1966)^(MWU 2024) Its cognates include [[ofs|festia]], [[nl|vasten]], [[de|fasten]] and [[non|fasta]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(SOED 2002) and Gothic has fastan “to keep, observe; to fast”.^(Etymonline)^(SOED 2002) The noun is partly from [[non|fasta|t=a fast, a season for fasting]].^(Etymonline)^(SOED 2002)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ To abstain from food as a religious duty: Old English ''fæstan'', recorded in 971.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Etymonline explains that the original Germanic sense, “to hold firmly”, developed through “to have firm control of oneself” to “to hold oneself to an observance”, perhaps translating Medieval Latin ''observare'', or as a loan-translation of a Greek expression brought to the Goths by Arian missionaries.^(Etymonline) The noun, an act of fasting, is from about 1200,^(OED 1989) and a day or season of fasting from before 1300.^(OED 1989) ''Break one's fast'' is the source of [[breakfast]].^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 971 – Old English ''fæstan''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 1200 – noun, a fast.^(OED 1989)

+ * before 1300 – a day of fasting.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To abstain from food, or from certain foods, especially as a religious discipline.^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # An act or period of fasting.^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[breakfast]]

+ * [[fasting]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[avast]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ A mooring rope is a ''fast'' from about 1440, an alteration of Middle English ''fest'', from Old Norse ''festr'', from ''fastr'' “firm”.^(MW Collegiate)^(OED 1989)^(SOED 2002) The American Heritage Dictionary compares ''fast'' with ''rapid'', ''swift'', ''fleet'', ''quick'' and ''hasty''.^(AHD)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}