befæstan

Old English

Etymology

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

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /beˈfæs.tɑn/

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

Conjugation of befæstan (weak class 1)

infinitive	befæstan	befæstenne
indicative mood	present tense	past tense
first person singular	befæste	befæste
second person singular	befæstest, befæst	befæstest
third person singular	befæsteþ, befæst	befæste
plural	befæstaþ	befæston
subjunctive	present tense	past tense
singular	befæste	befæste
plural	befæsten	befæsten
imperative
singular	befæst
plural	befæstaþ
participle	present	past
	befæstende	befæsted

Related terms

• befæstnian

Descendants

• Middle English: befasten, bifesten
  • English: befast