Word Study
fasten
CIDE DICTIONARY
fasten, v. t. [AS. fæstnian; akin to OHG. festin. See Fast, a. ].
- To fix firmly; to make fast; to secure, as by a knot, lock, bolt, etc.; as, to fasten a chain to the feet; to fasten a door or window. [1913 Webster]
- To cause to hold together or to something else; to attach or unite firmly; to cause to cleave to something , or to cleave together, by any means; as, to fasten boards together with nails or cords; to fasten anything in our thoughts. [1913 Webster]"The words Whig and Tory have been pressed to the service of many successions of parties, with very different ideas fastened to them." [1913 Webster]
- To cause to take close effect; to make to tell; to lay on; as, to fasten a blow. Dryden. [1913 Webster]"If I can fasten but one cup upon him." [1913 Webster]
Syn. -- To fix; cement; stick; link; affix; annex.
fasten, v. i.
To fix one's self; to take firm hold; to clinch; to cling. [1913 Webster]
"A horse leech will hardly fasten on a fish." [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
fasten, v.
1 tr. make or become fixed or secure.
2 tr. (foll. by in, up) lock securely; shut in.
3 tr. a (foll. by on, upon) direct (a look, thoughts, etc.) fixedly or intently. b focus or direct the attention fixedly upon (fastened him with her eyes).
4 tr. (foll. by on, upon) fix (a designation or imputation etc.).
5 intr. (foll. by on, upon) a take hold of. b single out.
1 tr. make or become fixed or secure.
2 tr. (foll. by in, up) lock securely; shut in.
3 tr. a (foll. by on, upon) direct (a look, thoughts, etc.) fixedly or intently. b focus or direct the attention fixedly upon (fastened him with her eyes).
4 tr. (foll. by on, upon) fix (a designation or imputation etc.).
5 intr. (foll. by on, upon) a take hold of. b single out.
Derivative
fastener n.
Etymology
OE f{aelig}stnian f. Gmc
THESAURUS
fasten
address, adhere, affix, aim, anchor, annex, apply, attach, bang, bar, barricade, batten, batten down, bed, belay, bind, bolt, bond, bridle, button, button up, catch, cement, chain, choke, choke off, cinch, clamp, clap, cleave, clinch, cling, close, close up, cohere, concenter, concentrate, connect, constrict, contain, contract, cover, cramp, devote, direct, embed, enchain, engraft, entrammel, establish, fasten down, fasten up, fetter, fix, fixate, focus, fold, fold up, fuse, graft, grapple, gyve, hamper, handcuff, hang, hang up, hitch, hobble, hog-tie, hook, hook up, hopple, implant, infix, join, key, knit, lash, latch, leash, link, lock, lock out, lock up, lodge, make fast, make secure, make sure, manacle, moor, occlude, padlock, peg down, picket, pin down, pinion, plumb, point, put, put in irons, put to, put up, restrain, rivet, rope, screw up, seal, seal off, seal up, secure, set, set to, settle, shackle, shut, shut the door, shut up, slam, sling, snap, squeeze shut, stick, straitjacket, strangle, strap, suspend, tether, tie, tie down, tie up, tighten, train, trammel, trice up, trim, turn, unite, wedge, zip up, zipperROGET THESAURUS
fasten
Junction
VB join, unite, conjoin, connect, associate, put together, lay together, clap together, hang together, lump together, hold together, piece together, tack together, fix together, bind up together together, embody, reembody, roll into one, attach, fix, affix, saddle on, fasten, bind, secure, clinch, twist, make fast, tie, pinion, string, strap, sew, lace, tat, stitch, tack, knit, button, buckle, hitch, lash, truss, bandage, braid, splice, swathe, gird, tether, moor, picket, harness, chain, fetter, lock, latch, belay, brace, hook, grapple, leash, couple, accouple, link, yoke, bracket, marry, bridge over, span, braze, pin, nail, bolt, hasp, clasp, clamp, crimp, screw, rivet, impact, solder, set, weld together, fuse together, wedge, rabbet, mortise, miter, jam, dovetail, enchase, graft, ingraft, inosculate, entwine, intwine, interlink, interlace, intertwine, intertwist, interweave, entangle, twine round, belay, tighten, trice up, screw up, be joined, hang together, hold together, cohere.Restraint
VB restrain, check, put under restraint, lay under restraint, enthral, enthrall, inthral, inthrall, bethral, bethrall, restrict, debar, constrain, coerce, curb, control, hold back, hold from, hold in, hold in check, hold within bounds, keep back, keep from, keep in, keep in check, keep within bounds, hold in leash, hold in leading strings, withhold, keep under, repress, suppress, smother, pull in, rein in, hold, hold fast, keep a tight hand on, prohibit, inhibit, cohibit, enchain, fasten, fetter, shackle, entrammel, bridle, muzzle, hopple, gag, pinion, manacle, handcuff, tie one's hands, hobble, bind hand and foot, swathe, swaddle, pin down, tether, picket, tie down, tie up, secure, forge fetters, disable, hamstring (incapacitate), confine, shut up, shut in, clap up, lock up, box up, mew up, bottle up, cork up, seal up, button up, hem in, bolt in, wall in, rail in, impound, pen, coop, inclose, cage, incage, encage, close the door upon, cloister, imprison, immure, incarcerate, entomb, clap under hatches, lay under hatches, put in irons, put in a strait-waistcoat, throw into prison, cast into prison, put into bilboes, arrest, take up, take charge of, take into custody, take prisoner, take captive, make prisoner, make captive, captivate, lead captive, lead into captivity, send to prison, commit to prison, commit, give in charge, give in custody, subjugate.Stability
VB be firm, stick fast, stand firm, keep firm, remain firm, weather the storm, stay the course, stick to the course, keep the faith, don't give in, don't buckle under, settle, establish, stablish, ascertain, fix, set, stabilitate, retain, keep hold, make good, make sure, fasten, set on its legs, float, perpetuate, settle down, strike roots, put down roots, take root, take up one's abode, build one's house on a rock.For further exploring for "fasten" in Webster Dictionary Online
