# fastness

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈfɑːs(t)nəs/ · frequency rank #89,348

## Definitions
1. The quality or state of being fast (in various senses).
2. The quality or state of being fast (in various senses).
3. The quality or state of being fast (in various senses).
4. The quality or state of being fast (in various senses).
5. The quality or state of being fast (in various senses).
6. The quality or state of being fast (in various senses).
7. Something that is fast, or that causes someone or something to be fast (in various senses).
8. Something that is fast, or that causes someone or something to be fast (in various senses).

## Etymology
From Middle English fastnes, fastnesse (“immovableness, stability; firmness, solidness; secure attachment; constancy; obstinacy; something giving firmness or strength; of sleep: soundness; of a wound: healing; assurance, confirmation”) [and other forms], from Old English fæstnes (“fastness, firmness, stability; resolution; tenacity; vigour; firmament; fortification”) [and other forms], from fæst (“firm, stable; constant”) (from Proto-Germanic *fastuz (“firm, fixed; secure”); see further at that entry) + -nes (suffix forming abstract nouns denoting a quality or state). The English word may be analysed as fast + -ness.

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/fastness