fastened

Everyday

1. Fastened means closed or joined firmly, like a seatbelt or a button that is done up. tree →
2. Fastened means fixed firmly to something, like a picture fastened to a wall. tree →
3. «Fastened on» can mean fixed your attention or eyes on something. tree →

In the lessons

In everyday safety, seatbelts must be fastened in cars and planes, and helmet straps fastened before riding. At school coats, shoes and bags are fastened with buttons, zips, buckles or Velcro. In stories a gate is fastened shut, or a character's eyes are fastened on something. Phrases: «fastened securely», «fastened tightly», «keep your seatbelt fastened».

Examples

• Make sure your seatbelt is fastened. tree →
• She fastened her coat and went out. tree →
• He fastened his helmet before riding. tree →
• The gate was fastened with a chain. tree →
• The poster was fastened to the wall with tape. tree →
• Keep your seatbelt fastened while seated. tree →
• I fastened the buttons on my cardigan. tree →
• His eyes were fastened on the cake. tree →
• On each stake he fastened a duck to roast. tree →

Note

The t is silent: FAH-sund (UK) or FAS-und (US). Base verb «fasten». Opposite: unfastened. Not related to «fast» (quick), though «fast» can also mean firmly fixed («stuck fast»).

In Jewish tradition

Here it means joined firmly. In Sefer Yetzirah God joins letters to His great name. In Job and Samuel it also means set firmly in place, as the earth's foundations, or nailed up, as a body or head on display.

Interpretation. Sefer Yetzirah says God joined the letters to His name and sealed the six directions of space with them. This shows the world as held together by the divine name. God's question to Job about the foundations being fastened is read as showing human limits before creation.

Examples

• He sealed them with spirit and fastened them to His great name and sealed with it six dimensions. (Sefer Yetzirah, Kalisch 1877) tree →
• He sealed them with spirit and fastened them to His great name and sealed with it six dimensions. [15] (Sefer Yetzirah, Kalisch 1877) tree →
• Whereupon were the foundations thereof fastened? (Writings JOB.38.6, JPS 1917) tree →
• And they put his armour in the house of their gods, and fastened his head in the house of Dagon. (Writings 1CH.10.10, JPS 1917) tree →
• And they put his armour in the house of the Ashtaroth; and they fastened his body to the wall of Beth-shan. (Prophets 1SA.31.10, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

The t is silent: FAH-sund (UK) or FAS-und (US). Base verb «fasten». Opposite: unfastened. Not related to «fast» (quick), though «fast» can also mean firmly fixed («stuck fast»).