Literally, set, stopped, fixed, or pressed close. Hence, close; tight; as, make fast the door; take fast hold.

Firm; immovable. Who by his strength, setteth fast the mountains. Psalm 65:6.

Close; strong. Robbers and outlaws - lurking in woods and fast places.

Firmly fixed; closely adhering; as, to stick fast in more; to make fast a rope.

Close, as sleep; deep; sound; as a fast sleep.

Firm in adherence; as a fast friend. Fast and loose, variable; inconstant; as, to play fast and loose.

Firmly; immovably. We will bind thee fast, and deliver thee into their hand. Judges 15:13.

Swift; moving rapidly; quick in motion; as a fast horse.

Swiftly; rapidly; with quick steps or progression; as, to run fast; to move fast through the water, as a ship; the work goes on fast.

To abstain from food, beyond the usual time; to omit to take the usual meals, for a time; as, to fast a day or a week.

To abstain from food voluntarily, for the mortification of the body or appetites, or as a token of grief, sorrow and affliction. Thou didst fast and weep for the child. 2 Samuel 12:27. When ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance. Matthew 6:16.

To abstain from food partially, or from particular kinds of food; as, the Catholics fast in Lent.

Abstinence from food; properly a total abstinence, but it is used also for an abstinence from particular kinds of food, for a certain time. Happy were our forefathers, who broke their fasts with herbs.

Voluntary abstinence from food, as a religious mortification or humiliation; either total or partial abstinence from customary food, with a view to mortify the appetites, or to express grief and affliction on account of some calamity, or to deprecate an expected evil.

The time of fasting, whether a day, week or longer time. An annual fast is kept in New England, usually one day in the spring. The fast was now already past. Acts 27:9.

That which fastens or holds.