Hypertext Webster Gateway: "fastness"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
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.
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.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
fastness
n 1: a rate (usually rapid) at which something happens; "the
project advanced with gratifying speed" [syn: {speed}, {swiftness}]
2: the quality of being fixed in place [syn: {fixedness}, {fixity},
{secureness}]
3: a strongly fortified defensive structure [syn: {stronghold}]
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