WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
hand•fast
(hand′fast′, -fäst′),USA pronunciation n.
- [Archaic.]a covenant or contract, esp. a betrothal, usually completed by a handclasp.
- Scandinavian; compare Old Norse handfestr, past participle of handfesta to betroth with a joining of hands, equivalent. to hand hand + festa to betroth, literally, make fast, fasten
- Middle English (past participle), earlier handfest 1150–1200