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"Fast" is an interesting word in English -- it has a diverse (or is it "dyuers"?) set of meanings surrounding both "rapid", "secure" (i.e. "stand fast" or "fast
by duskwuff 6y ago
"Fast" is an interesting word in English -- it has a diverse (or is it "dyuers"?) set of meanings surrounding both "rapid", "secure" (i.e. "stand fast" or "fast asleep"), and "abstain" ("fasting").
Its relative, "quick", has some weird historical attachments as well -- it can mean both "rapid" and "alive" (as in "quicksand" or the "quick" of a nail).
- cyberdrunk 6y ago> Its relative, "quick", has some weird historical attachments as well -- it can mean both "rapid" and "alive" (as in "quicksand" or the "quick" of a nail). Likely also "quicksilver"?
- _emacsomancer_ 6y ago"fast on the heels of" gives you an idea of how to connect the senses
- thaumasiotes 6y ago> "secure" (i.e. "stand fast" or "fast asleep") The most common example of this sense today would be "fasten".