Faste
/ˈfɑːstə/noun
An obsolete or Middle English form of “fast,” meaning firmly, securely, or quickly.
Did you know?In Old English, the ancestor of “faste” described something firm or secure before developing the modern sense of moving quickly, likely through the idea of holding fast.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*pag- / *pak-
“To fasten, make firm, or fix securely”
Proto-Germanic
Proto-Germanic
*fastuz
“Firm, fixed, secure”
Old English
Old English
fæst / fæste
“Firmly, securely, or steadfastly”
Middle English
Middle English
faste
“Firmly, securely; also quickly in developing usages”
14th–15th Century
English
fast
“Firm, fixed, steadfast; increasingly also moving rapidly”
Modern English
English
fast
“Moving quickly, or firmly attached and secure”