fastness

2 definitions found

fastness - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Fastness \Fast"ness\, n. [AS. f[ae]stnes, fr. f[ae]st fast. See
     Fast, a.]
     1. The state of being fast and firm; firmness; fixedness;
        security; faithfulness.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              All . . . places of fastness [are] laid open. --Sir
                                                    J. Davies.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. A fast place; a stronghold; a fortress or fort; a secure
        retreat; a castle; as, the enemy retired to their
        fastnesses in the mountains.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     3. Conciseness of style. [Obs.] --Ascham.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     4. The state of being fast or swift.
        [1913 Webster]

fastness - WordNet (r) 2.1 (2005) :

  fastness
      n 1: a rate (usually rapid) at which something happens; "the
           project advanced with gratifying speed" [syn: speed,
           swiftness, fastness]
      2: the quality of being fixed in place as by some firm
         attachment [syn: fastness, fixedness, fixity,
         fixture, secureness] [ant: looseness]
      3: a strongly fortified defensive structure [syn: stronghold,
         fastness]