| n. | 1. | Hold; grasp |
| 2. | Custody; power of confining or keeping. | |
| 3. | A contract; specifically, an espousal. | |
| a. | 1. | Fast by contract; betrothed by joining hands. |
| v. t. | 1. | To pledge; to bind. |
| 2. | To betroth by joining hands, in order to permit cohabitation, before the formal celebration of marriage; in some parts of Scotland it was in effect to marry provisionally, permitting cohabitation for a year, after which the marriage could be formalized or dissolved. | |
| a. | 1. | Strong; steadfast. |