befæstan

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Old English

Etymology

From Proto-West Germanic *bifastijan, equivalent to be- (around) +‎ fæstan (to secure, fasten).

Pronunciation

Verb

befæstan

  1. (transitive) to fasten; fix; ground; establish; make safe; put in safe keeping
  2. (transitive) to apply; utilize; commend; entrust to
  3. (transitive) to commit
    • late 9th century, King Alfred's translation of Saint Augustine's Soliloquies
      ...Gyf ðū ēnigne gōdne heorde hæbbe þe wel cunne healdan þæt þæt þū gestrēone and him befæste, scēawa hyne me; []
      If thou have any good steward that can well hold that which thou gettest and committest unto him, show him to me;

Conjugation

Descendants

  • Middle English: befasten, bifesten