fæste

• IPA^(key): /fɛstə/, [ˈfɛsd̥ə]
• Homophone: feste

From Old Danish fæstæ, from Proto-Germanic *fastiją, cognate with Norwegian feste, Swedish fäste. Derived from *fastuz (“firm”).

fæste n (singular definite fæstet, plural indefinite fæster)

1. hold, foothold (a firm grip or stand)
2. hilt, handle (a place to hold thing)
3. (historical) copyhold, foothold (transfer of the right to use a property to another person)

• fæstebonde

• “fæste,1” in Den Danske Ordbog

From Old Danish fæstæ, from Old Norse festa, from Proto-Germanic *fastijaną, cognate with Norwegian feste, Swedish fästa, German festen. Derived from *fastuz (“firm”).

fæste (past tense fæstede, past participle fæstet)

1. to fasten, fix
2. (dated) to engage, hire (especially household)
3. (historical) to give in copyhold (to transfer of the right to use a property to another person)
4. (historical) to give away in marriage
5. (reflexive) to notice (with the preposition ved)

   Jeg fæster mig ved, at...

   I notice that...

• fæstning

• “fæste,2” in Den Danske Ordbog

fæste

1. inflection of fæstan:
   1. first-person singular present indicative
   2. preterite/present subjunctive plural
   3. first/third-person singular preterite indicative

fæste

1. inflection of fæst:
   1. strong feminine accusative singular
   2. strong masculine/feminine nominative/accusative plural
   3. weak neuter/feminine nominative singular
   4. weak neuter accusative singular

From fæst (“firm”) +‎ -e (“-ly”).

• IPA^(key): /ˈfæs.te/

fæste

1. firmly, fastly, tightly
   • 10th century, The Wanderer:

     …þæt biþ in eorle · indryhten þēaw,
     þæt hē his ferðlocan · fæste binde,
     healde his hordcōfan; · hyċġe swā hē wille.

     …that a noble habit is in a brave man,
     that he would tightly bind his spirit,
     keep his treasure-chamber; think as he want.

• Middle English: fast, faste
  • English: fast

• Joseph Bosworth, T. Northcote Toller (1898) “fæste”, in An Anglo-Saxon Dictionary, second edition, Oxford: Oxford University Press.