fastness : Dictionary / Wörterbuch (BEOLINGUS, TU Chemnitz)

English Dictionary: fastness	by the DICT Development Group
2 results for fastness
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
fastness n a rate (usually rapid) at which something happens; "the project advanced with gratifying speed" Synonym(s): speed, swiftness, fastness the quality of being fixed in place as by some firm attachment Synonym(s): fastness, fixedness, fixity, fixture, secureness Antonym(s): looseness a strongly fortified defensive structure Synonym(s): stronghold, fastness
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Fastness \Fast"ness\, n. [AS. f[91]stnes, fr. f[91]st fast. See {Fast}, a.] 1. The state of being fast and firm; firmness; fixedness; security; faithfulness. All . . . places of fastness [are] laid open. --Sir J. Davies. 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. 3. Conciseness of style. [Obs.] --Ascham. 4. The state of being fast or swift.