Middle English Dictionary Entry
faste(n n.
Entry Info
| Forms | faste(n n. Also feste(n, vaste(n, veste(n. |
| Etymology | OE fæsten, & ON fasta (the early n-less forms). |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Voluntary abstinence from food and drink or from certain kinds of food, for spiritual or religious discipline; an act of such abstinence; (b) a period set aside for such abstinence; (c) faste(n dai, ~ tid, ~ time, a day, or other period of time, set aside for such abstinence; faste gong → fast-ingong.
Associated quotations
a
- c1175(?OE) Bod.Hom.(Bod 343)50/19 : Haliȝe weccæn ant festene & ȝebedu & ælmesse dedæ.
- c1175(?OE) Bod.Hom.(Bod 343)98/20 : He þis ylce fæsten feste feowertiȝæ daȝæ & nihtæ togadere.
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)11330 : All wiþþutenn mete & drinnch Heold Crist hiss fasste þære.
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)11569 : Affterr þat all hiss fasste was Forþedd & brohht till ende.
- a1225(c1200) Vices & V.(1) (Stw 34)137/28 : Alswa michel senne hit is to breken fasten mid drinke after none wið-uten michele nede, a[l]swa hit is to-foren non of aten wið-uten alswa michele niede.
- c1230(?a1200) *Ancr.(Corp-C 402)37b : Veaste [Nero: vesten], wecche, & oþre swucche..beoð mi sacrefises.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)25093 : Thinges þat sinful man to pardun bringes, Als almus, fast, and oþer ma.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)29026 : And o þis fast es thrin manere: Þe first to mete and drink for-bere, O þis werld þe toþer it is, Baret to bere, for-bere þe bliss; Þe thrid es better þan þe twa Wit gastli fast all giltes for-ga.
- a1425 Cursor (Glb E.9)28627 : Ogains pride praier may rise, Fastin [Vsp: and fast] for flesli couatyse.
- ?a1425(c1400) Mandev.(1) (Tit C.16)86/15 : Þei [Saracins] fasten an hool moneth in the ȝeer..But the seke men be not constreyned to þat fast.
- ?c1450 St.Cuth.(Eg 3309)1265 : It was fryday, day of fast.
- a1500(?c1425) Spec.Sacer.(Add 36791)56/3 : Thow brekest thy faste more þen thow schuldest do with eny mete or drynke.
b
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)5.19 : This pope institute the faste of Lente.
c
- c1230(?a1200) *Ancr.(Corp-C 402)86b : Ich hit dude in lenten, i feastendahes [Nero: uestendawes], in halidahes.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)28464 : Bath lenten tide and fasten day Oft haue i broken gain my Lay.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)29071 : Yee hele yur aun fastintide.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)29083 : Þai held noght fastin time.
- a1400 Cursor (Frf 14)27210 : In halitide or fast-day [Vsp: fastim dai].
2.
Going without food for any of various reasons; going without food before the first meal of the day; breken faste.
Associated quotations
- a1225(?c1175) PMor.(Lamb 487)145 : Ful wombe mei lihtliche speken of hunger & of festen [vrr. fasten, uaste].
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)155 : Euery Pilgryme..toke..his hors, Whan the sonne roos..in purpoos to come to dynere Vnto Osspryng and breke þer our faste.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)5.370 : Leches seyn that of complexiouns Proceden they [dreams], or fast, or glotonye.
- a1456(a1449) Lydg.BC (Trin-C R.3.20)91 : I ful longe may goon and seeke Or I cane fynde a gode repaaste A-morowe to breke with my faaste.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)113/8 : On the morne [he] herde hys masse and brake hys faste.
3.
(a) Restraint; (b) ?privation, hardship.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)6.850 : For thanne anon mi faste I breke On suche wordes as sche seith.
b
- a1450(1436) Libel EP (LdMisc 704)p.204 : After alle this feste Wee nowe have pease in the londe of byheste.