(n.) Hold; grasp; custody; power of confining or keeping.
(n.) Contract; specifically, espousal.
(a.) Fast by contract; betrothed by joining hands.
(v. t.) To pledge; to bind; to betroth by joining hands, in order to cohabitation, before the celebration of marriage.
(n.) Strong; steadfast.
Example Sentences:
(1) It was his suggestion to incorporate handfasting into their ceremony, a pagan tradition where the couple’s hands are symbolically tied together with ribbons, which is a common feature of humanist weddings.
(2) Overnight he had also carried out around a dozen "handfasting" ceremonies – the pagan equivalent of weddings.
Steadfast
Definition:
(a.) Firmly fixed or established; fast fixed; firm.
(a.) Not fickle or wavering; constant; firm; resolute; unswerving; steady.
Example Sentences:
(1) While visitors amble freely around the newly refurbished inside – the Pierhead is sure and steadfast in its role outside as the drastic red building, emblazoning the landscape of Cardiff Bay in all its regal beauty.
(2) "Although she was always a steadfast critic of apartheid, she had a much better grasp of the complexities and geostrategic realities of South Africa than many of her contemporaries," he said.
(3) One of those convictions was his steadfast and passionate belief in the importance of the US-Saudi relationship as a force for stability and security in the Middle East and beyond.
(4) His remarks came as the Republican leadership in the US Senate remained steadfast in its opposition to filling the supreme court vacancy under Obama’s watch.
(5) In a statement, a spokesperson said that the Obama emphasised that the US “remains steadfast in [its] commitment to the security of Israel .” Netanyahu told Obama that Israel “vehemently opposes” the framework deal .
(6) But the county authorities, along with Montana's state election officials, have steadfastly refused to grant the request, offering a panoply of excuses, many of them contradictory.
(7) The present review is first and foremost a tribute to Monroe Eaton and his colleagues for their trail-blazing discovery of a major cause of the atypical pneumonia syndrome and their steadfast vision of its importance.
(8) By being steadfast in our values we can impel Russia to rethink its ambitions; by being mild we can encourage their cruellest actions.
(9) He argues that the previous EULA was more restrictive, but is steadfast that "ranks" and "kits" are ways to pay for progress and therefore not allowed – whatever they may (or may not) add to the experience.
(10) Why not?” May on Sunday told Fabian Picardo, the chief minister of Gibraltar, that the UK remained “steadfastly committed to our support for Gibraltar, its people and its economy”, according to the details of a telephone conversation released by Downing Street.
(11) I have also never been more encouraged by your dedication and steadfast commitment to our future.
(12) "Secretary Kerry has a proud record of over three decades of steadfast support for Israel's security and wellbeing, including staunch opposition to boycotts," Psaki said in a statement.
(13) "Donor agencies were given highly credible first-hand accounts of serious human rights violations during their field investigation, and they have chosen to steadfastly ignore these accounts," says the report, written by Will Hurd, an NGO worker who served as a translator for a team of DfID and USAid officials on a visit to the region in January 2012.
(14) Confronted with steadfast mission requirements, increasing demands for dental services, and a reduction of professional staff, the Corps has responded to challenge with the implementation of an alternative to the limitations of established and traditional concepts of practice.
(15) The prime minister, Tony Abbott, has steadfastly refused to do so, citing the Coalition’s long-held refusal to talk about operational “on-water” matters.
(16) Though framed by record high temperatures and an increasing number of extreme weather events, the Paris talks are already beset by the same problems that repeatedly dog climate change negotiations: the richest countries steadfastly refuse to meet legal commitments and shoulder their share of responsibility , preferring to uphold the desires of all-powerful corporate lobbies.
(17) But where some traditions were broken, others remain steadfastly in place.
(18) Her commitment went beyond this role and she remained steadfast to social work and the people it serves.
(19) Is steadfastly denying her son so admirable, when other parents remortgage and raid pensions to help their children on their way?
(20) The mayor has steadfastly refused to step down since reports emerged of a video of him smoking crack.