handfast

From Middle English hondfast, past participle of Middle English hondfesten (“to betroth”), from Old Norse handfesta (“to strike a bargain, pledge”), itself from hönd (“hand”) + festa (“to fasten, fix, affirm”) (compare see past- in Indo-European roots).

handfast (plural handfasts)

1. (obsolete) A hold, grasp; custody, power of confining or keeping.
   • 1611 April (first recorded performance)​, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Cymbeline”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies: Published According to the True Originall Copies (First Folio), London: Printed by Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, OCLC 606515358, [Act I, scene v]:

     And the remembrancer of her to hold
     The hand-fast to her lord. I have given him that

2. (obsolete) A contract, agreement, covenant; specifically betrothal, espousal.

handfast (third-person singular simple present handfasts, present participle handfasting, simple past and past participle handfasted)

1. (transitive) To pledge; to bind
2. (transitive, Wicca) To betroth by joining hands, in order to allow for cohabitation before the celebration of marriage; to marry provisionally.
   • (1820) When we are handfasted, as we term it, we are man and wife for a year and a day; that space gone by, each may choose another mate, or, at their pleasure, may call the priest to marry them for life; and this we call handfasting. - Sir Walter Scott, The Monastery

handfast

1. (obsolete) Fast by contract; betrothed by joining hands.

   (Can we find and add a quotation of Bale to this entry?)

German Handfest, itself from Hand (“hand”) + fest (“firm, strong”).

handfast (comparative more handfast, superlative most handfast)

1. (rare) Strong; steadfast.