Old English fæstnian "make fast, make firm, fix, secure," also "ratify, betroth, confirm," from Proto-Germanic *fastinon "to make firm or fast" (source also of Old Frisian festnia "to make firm, bind fast," Old Saxon fastnon, Old High German fastnion, German festnen, Old Norse fastna "to pledge, betroth"), from PIE *fast "solid, firm" (see fast (adj.)). Related: Fastened; fastening.

1755, "one who fastens," agent noun from fasten (v.). From 1792 of mechanical devices (for clothing, etc.).

also re-fasten, "to fasten anew or again," 1590s, from re- "back, again" + fasten (v.). Related: Refastened; refastening.

early 13c., from un- (2) "opposite of" + fasten. Old English had unfæstnian "to unfasten." Related: Unfastened; unfastening.

late 14c., of substances, "closely and firmly united," from Latin compactus "concentrated," past participle of compingere "to fasten together, construct," from com "with, together" (see com-) + pangere "to fix, fasten" (from PIE root *pag- "to fasten"). Related: Compactly; compactness. Compact car is 1960. Compact disc is from 1979.

1530s, "fasten or fix forcibly," from Latin impingere "drive into, strike against," from assimilated form of in- "into, in, on, upon" (from PIE root *en "in") + pangere "to fix, fasten" (from PIE root *pag- "to fasten"). Sense of "encroach, infringe" first recorded 1738. Related: Impinged; impinging; impingent.

"the art of book-binding," 1835, from biblio- "book" + Greek pegia, from pegnynai "to fasten, fix; make stiff or solid," from PIE root *pag- "to fasten." Related: Bibliopegic; bibliopegist.

1778, from Modern Latin suffixum, noun use of neuter of Latin suffixus "fastened," past participle of suffigere "fasten, fix on, fasten below," from assimilated form of sub "under, up from under" (see sub-) + figere "to fasten, fix" (from PIE root *dheigw- "to stick, fix"). Related: Suffixal.

late 14c., "act of making or state of being compact," from Old French compaction, from Latin compactionem (nominative compactio) "a putting or joining together," noun of action from past participle stem of compingere "to fasten together, construct," from com "with, together" (see com-) + pangere "to fix, fasten" (from PIE root *pag- "to fasten"). From 1520s as "the making of a compact."

"to fasten with a clamp," 1670s, from clamp (n.). Related: Clamped; clamping.