Fastness

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Fastness \Fast"ness\, n. [AS. f[ae]stnes, fr. f[ae]st fast. See
     {Fast}, a.]
     1. The state of being fast and firm; firmness; fixedness;
        security; faithfulness.
        [1913 Webster]
  


              All . . . places of fastness [are] laid open. --Sir
                                                    J. Davies.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. A fast place; a stronghold; a fortress or fort; a secure
        retreat; a castle; as, the enemy retired to their
        fastnesses in the mountains.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     3. Conciseness of style. [Obs.] --Ascham.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     4. The state of being fast or swift.
        [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  fastness
       n 1: a rate (usually rapid) at which something happens; "the
            project advanced with gratifying speed" [syn: {speed}, {swiftness}]
       2: the quality of being fixed in place [syn: {fixedness}, {fixity},
           {fixture}, {secureness}]
       3: a strongly fortified defensive structure [syn: {stronghold}]