Handfast

4 definitions found

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

  handfast \hand"fast`\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {handfasted}; p. pr.
     & vb. n. {handfasting}.]
     1. To pledge; to bind. [Obs.]
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. To betroth by joining hands, in order to permit


        cohabitation, before the formal celebration of marriage;
        in some parts of Scotland it was in effect to marry
        provisionally, permitting cohabitation for a year, after
        which the marriage could be formalized or dissolved.
        [Obs.]
        [1913 Webster +PJC]
  
     Note: Handfasting was a simple contract of agreement under
           which cohabitation was permitted for a year, at the end
           of which time the contract could be either dissolved or
           made permanent by a formal marriage. Such marriages, at
           first probably not intended to be temporary, are
           supposed to have originated in Scotland from a scarcity
           of clergy, and to have existed at times in other
           countries.
           [Century Dict. 1906.]

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

  handfast \hand"fast`\ (h[a^]nd"f[.a]st`), n.
     1. Hold; grasp [Obs.] --Shak.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. Custody; power of confining or keeping. [Obs.] --Shak.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     3. A contract; specifically, an espousal. [Obs.]
        [1913 Webster]

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

  handfast \hand"fast`\, a.
     Fast by contract; betrothed by joining hands. [Obs.] --Bale.
     [1913 Webster]

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

  handfast \hand"fast`\, a. [G. handfest; hand hand + fest strong.
     See {Fast}.]
     Strong; steadfast.[R.] --Carlyle.
     [1913 Webster]