[f. as prec. + -NESS.]
I. The quality or state of being fast.
1. The quality or state of being firmly fixed; fixedness, stability. † Also, firm attachment.
c. 888. K. Ælfred, Boeth., xxxii. § 2. Behealdaþ nu … ða fæstnesse … þisses heofenes.
1340. Ayenb., 107. Þet no þing þet moȝe beualle ne moȝe ous ondo of þe ilke uestnesse ne of þise grace.
c. 1400. Lanfranc’s Cirurg., 49. If þat ilke pece have no fastnes to be hool boon do þat pece awey.
a. 1400–50. Alexander, 3259 (Dubl.). Suld not be funde in hym fastnes.
1523. Fitzherbert, The Boke of Husbandry, § 139. The wynde is lykely to blowe it besyde the heed, for it hath no fastnes in the wodde.
1603. Florio, Montaigne, I. ix. (1632), 16. Falshood, which therein can have no such footing, or setled fastnesse.
1677. Gilpin, Dæmonol. (1867), 429. His words be so far from the fastness of nails that they shall be as wind.
1886. E. Knecht, trans. Benedict’s Coal Tar Colours, III. 201. Shades … characterised by their extreme fastness.
† b. Fidelity, loyalty, firm adherence. Const. to.
c. 1577. Stanyhurst, Epitaph Baron of Louth (Arb.), 151. Thee fastnesse of foster brotherhod.
1648. E. Symmons, Vind. Chas. I., 331. There be many thousands of true Protestant English hearts, who (according as our Religion teacheth) have you in the most high esteem of all earthly women, for your tender Care, and constant fastnesse to our Soveraign, in these times of trouble.
† 2. Close alliance. Obs. rare.
a. 1631. Sir R. Cotton, Advice, in Rushw., Hist. Coll., I. 471. Nothing can prevent the Spanish Monarchy, but a Fastness of those two Princes.
† 3. The quality or state of being compact or close; density, solidity. Also of style: Conciseness, pithiness. Obs.
1555. Watreman, Fardle Facions, I. ii. 30. This earth then brought by ye heate of the sonne into a more fastenesse.
a. 1568. Ascham, Scholem. (Arb.), 114. To bring his style, from all lowse grosnesse, to soch firme fastnes in latin, as is in Demosthenes in Greeke.
1621. Ainsworth, Annot., Ps. xix. 11. Solid gold, called Paz, which hath the name of strength, fastnesse, or solidity: such gold was rare and precious.
1660. Sharrock, Vegetables, 17. For considering the nature of young Tulip roots is to runne down deeper into the ground, every year more than other, they think to hinder their quick descent by the fastness of the ground, that so they may increase the better.
1666. J. Smith, Old Age (ed. 2), 117. The voice of the third, is the proper tone of all the parts of the body, the fastness and fulness of the flesh, and convenient perspiration.
1673–4. Grew, Anat. Trunks, II. vii. § 4. Its Fastness [depending] on the closeness of the true Wood.
† 4. Capacity for gripping tightly or retaining; tenacity, retentiveness. Obs.
1552. Huloet, Fastnes, tenacia, tenacitas.
1581. Mulcaster, Positions, v. (1887), 27. We finde also in them [children], as a quickenes to take, so a fastnesse to retaine: therfore their memorie would streight waye be furnished, with the verie best, seeing it is a treasurie.
† 5. Security from invasion, difficulty of access; safety, strength. Obs. Cf. 9.
1596. Spenser, F. Q., V. x. 18.
| That to those fennes for fastnesse she did fly, | |
| And there her selfe did hyde from his hard tyranny. |
1600. Dymmok, Ireland (1843), 23. It is very hard to hurt him, by reason of the fastnes of his cuntry, having frendes on either side the Ban.
1697. Dryden, Virg. Æneid, IX. 940.
| The foes had left the fastness of their place, | |
| Prevailed in fight, and had his men in chase. |
6. Rapidity, swiftness.
a. 1642. Sir W. Monson, Naval Tracts, IV. (1704), 452/1. Our English Ships have a great advantage of the Spaniards, by reason of their Fastness by a Wind, which the others cannot beat it up, because of their Leewardness.
1727–36. Bailey, Fastness, swiftness.
1871. Sir H. Holland, Recoll. (1872), 268. The increased fastness of living, incident to all classes and occupations of men.
7. Of persons: The quality of being ‘fast’ in manners, talk, or mode of living. Cf. FAST a. 10.
1859. Mrs. Carlyle, Lett., III. 1. Sentiment, you see, is not well looked on by the present generation of women; there is a growing taste for fastness, or, still worse, for strong-mindedness!
1863. Lond. Rev., 31 Jan., 126/1. Her fastness is more impulsive and less calculating, very much the result merely of animal spirits and impatience of restraint.
1881. C. New, Serm., 101. Fastness is not manliness, but emptiness and weakness.
1889. H. James, London Life, xi. 211. Putting an appearance of ‘fastness’ upon her.
II. Concrete senses.
† 8. That which fastens or keeps fast. a. Support, help. b. A fastening. Obs.
a. 1382. Wyclif, Ps. xxiv. [xxv.] 14. Fastnesse is the Lord to men dredende hym.
a. 1400. Prymer (1891), 109. Oure lord is a fastnesse to hem that dredith hym.
b. 1676. Worlidge, Cyder (1691), 117. Weights of … lead, with rings, cords or other fastnesses to them.
1879. Miss Jackson, Shropsh. Word-bk., ‘That theer bull’s bin ’ilin the dur o’ ’is place, an’ bruk the fas’ness.’
9. A place not easily forced; a stronghold, fortress.
c. 1000. Ælfric, Gram., ix. § 12 (Z.), 41. Munimen … fæstnys.
1586. J. Hooker, Girald. Irel., in Holinshed, II. 157. They … ouertooke them at a fastenes fast by the woods side.
1650. Cromwell, Let., 30 July (Carlyle). They would rather tempt us to attempt them in their fastness.
1748. Anson’s Voy., II. i. 121. These are divided into separate herds of twenty or thirty each, which inhabit distinct fastnesses, and never mingle with each other: By this means we found it extremely difficult to kill them.
1844. H. H. Wilson, Brit. India, III. 341. A strong and almost inaccessible fastness at Bandi.
fig. 1864. Lowell, Fireside Trav., 200. In the impregnable fastness of his great rich nature he [the Roman] defies us.
