Page 1 of 1

fast

Posted: Mon Aug 12, 2013 10:28 am
by William Hupy
I used the expression fast asleep recently and realized that it is an oxymoron or could be. Fast originally meant "steady" or "in place" as in steadfast, but also applied to dyes that were "fastened" to the fabric. I wonder if a fast, as in abstaining from the consumption of food, is somehow related. What remains FAScinating, however, is that fast can mean "in place" and also capable of moving at great speed. You just gotta love the English language!

Re: fast

Posted: Mon Aug 12, 2013 12:57 pm
by Perry Lassiter
Good catch! Never thought of the array of meanings of "fast."

Re: fast

Posted: Thu Aug 15, 2013 12:43 pm
by Philip Hudson
All definitions of fast in all parts of speech seem to have the same derivation. Well, that's life in the fast lane.