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Wednesday, January 14, 2015

Word of the Week: Fast

“David and Emily from Charles Dickens' David Copperfield
by Frank Reynolds.
What comes to mind when you hear the word fast? Do you think of something locked firmly in place? The lock held fast on the treasure chest lid. A loyal friend? We became fast friends after enduring months of captivity in the pirate ship's hold. Someone pledging to not eat for some period? We fasted for days while aboard the pirate ship. Someone or something that moves quickly? The pirate sloop was incredibly fast when running before the wind. How can a word that describes something firmly fixed also describe something that moves quickly? Sounds like one of those contradictions that makes English so much fun but gives anyone trying to learn it fits.

Fast is used as an adjective, adverb, and verb. These three uses are also present in Old English: fæst (adjective), fæste (adverb), and fæstan (verb). All three uses had the sense of making or describing something as firm, secure, or fixed. The Old English words derive from Proto-Germanic *fastu-, *fasto, and *fasten. There are many cognates in other Germanic languages. The sense of abstaining from food is also present in Old English. The original meaning of holding firmly evolved to mean firm hold of oneself or firm control of one's appetites and urges. The verb fasten comes from the same root. Old English fæstnian—meaning to fix, make firm, or secure—derives from Proto-Germanic *fastinon. Now that all those meanings are firmly fixed and secure, how do we get to something that moves with great speed?

Sometime before 1200, fast added quickly and rapidly to it's litany of meanings. It's not certain when this addition occurred. It may have been one of the Old English meanings. One theory, citing the influence of Old Norse, attributes the new sense to associating the adverb fast (meaning firmly or vigorously) with run. He runs hard. He runs fast. Another theory, citing the influence of Old Danish, suggests that a fast runner is one who stays close to what he is chasing. The Old Danish adjective fast includes the meanings near to and almost. The Old Norse theory makes more sense to me but I like the imagery of the Old Danish one with the warrior fast on the heels of his fleeing foe.

12 comments:

  1. The Old Norse one makes the most sense to me as well.

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  2. Knee jerk reaction, I thought of sprinting. I love the English language, but it's amazing how complex and confusing it can be. So much history, such rich roots...

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  3. I love when dictionary entries include the history of the word. It's fascinating. Fast, I think about running.

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  4. The history of words and word usage is a really interesting thing, and it brings home the fact that language is very fluid.

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  5. Wow, yeah, my first thought was quick movement. That's strange (and cool) how words morph.

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  6. I thought fast as in quick moving too. That Old Norse image does resonate strongest with me too.

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  7. I hadn't really thought of all the possibilities of "fast." My lazy self just uses it to mean quick. *blush*

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  8. Hi Jeff. I confess I under-use the word, 'fast', as I'm a bit slow. Such a great post... gave me a chuckle.

    I'm visiting from "Celebrate the small things," blog hop. Hope your weekend is pleasant.

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  9. It is amazing how complex our language is. We've even adapted the word to slang- no one wants to be a fast girl, though she may be popular with some of the boys.

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  10. Huh, never stopped to think about the different uses. I mostly use it to mean quick :)

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  11. Caught this scanning my Google+ page. Interesting the different meanings for "Fast." The first word that came to my mind was "stressful." I have spent much of my life hurrying and upping the speed. However, I do my best work when I take the time needed.

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  12. Fascinating. Always love these posts. Maybe you should collect them together into a little book some time...

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