different between betrothal vs handfast

English

Etymology

betroth +? -al

Noun

betrothal (countable and uncountable, plural betrothals)

1. The act of betrothing.
2. The fact of being betrothed; a mutual promise, engagement, or contract for a future marriage between two people.

Synonyms

• betrothment
• affiance

Translations

References

• betrothal in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.

English

Etymology 1

From Middle English hondfast, past participle of Middle English hondfesten (“to betroth”), from Old Norse handfesta (“to strike a bargain, pledge”), itself from hönd (“hand”) + festa (“to fasten, fix, affirm”) (compare see past- in Indo-European roots).

Noun

handfast (plural handfasts)

1. (obsolete) A hold, grasp; custody, power of confining or keeping.
2. (obsolete) A contract, agreement, covenant; specifically betrothal, espousal.

Translations

Verb

handfast (third-person singular simple present handfasts, present participle handfasting, simple past and past participle handfasted)

1. (transitive) To pledge; to bind
2. (transitive, Scotland, archaic or historical except Wicca) To betroth by joining hands, in order to allow for cohabitation before the celebration of marriage; to marry provisionally.

Adjective

handfast

1. (obsolete) Fast by contract; betrothed by joining hands.

   (Can we find and add a quotation of Bale to this entry?)

Etymology 2

Calque of German handfest, itself from Hand (“hand”) + fest (“firm, strong”).

Adjective

handfast (comparative more handfast, superlative most handfast)

1. (rare) Strong; steadfast.

Translations