Obs. exc. in Comb. FASTEN’S-EEN, FASTEN TUESDAY, dial. Forms: 1–2 fæsten fæstan, (Northumb. fæstern), 1–3 festen, vesten, 3 fasten, fastin, (fastim), 4– (see FASTEN’S EEN). [OE. fæsten str. neut.:—OTeut. type *fastunjo-m, f. *fast-êjan to FAST. Similar but not exactly equivalent derivatives are OS. fastunnia str. fem., Goth. fastubni str. neut. The ONorthumb. form fæstern (cf. éfern, wéstern = WS. ǽfen, wésten) is the source of the Sc. fastryn, fastern, etc.: see FASTEN’S-EEN.]
1. Fasting; an act of fasting; = FAST sb.1 1.
c. 825. Vesp. Psalter, cviii. [cix.] 24. Cneow min ȝeuntrumad sind fore festenne.
971. Blickl. Hom., 37. Halȝiaþ eower fæsten & medeme lac bringaþ Drihtne.
c. 1000. Ags. Gosp., Matt. xvii. 21. Soþlice þis cynn ne byþ ut-adryfen buton þurh ȝebed and fæsten.
c. 1175. Lamb. Hom., 37. Ne lipnie ȝe no al to eower festene ȝif ȝe maȝen eni oðer god don.
a. 1225. Ancr. R., 138. Vesten, wecchen & oðre swuche … beoð mine sacrefises.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 28627 (Cotton Galba).
| Ogains pride praier may rise, | |
| Fastin for flesli couatyse. |
2. = FAST sb.1 2.
a. 725. Laws Wihtræd, § 14. Gif mon his heowum in fæsten flæsc ȝefe.
c. 1050. Byrhtferth’s Handboc, in Anglia, VIII. 311. Þæt ymbren fæstan byð on þissum monðe.
c. 1200. Winteney Rule St. Benet (1888), 83. éa bec synd to syllanne on anginne fæsten[es].
3. Comb., as fasten-day, -tide, -time.
a. 900. Charter, xxxvii. in O.E. Texts (1885), 444. Gif hit þonne festendaæþ sie.
a. 1035. Sec. Laws of Cnut, § 47. Yfel bið þæt man riht fæsten-tide æer mæle ete.
a. 1225. Ancr. R., 318. Ich hit dude inne leinten, ine uestendawes, holidawes.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 27210 (Cott.).
| In halitide or fastim dai. | |
| Ibid., 28464 (Cott.). | |
| Bath lenten tide and fasten day | |
| Oft haue i broken gain my lay. | |
| Ibid., 29071 (Cott.). | |
| Yee hele yur aun fastintide. | |
| Ibid., 29083 (Cott.). | |
| For þai held noght fastin time. |
