An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/fasten

by Friedrich Kluge

fasten, vb., ‘to fast,’ from the equiv. MidHG. vasten, OHG. fastên; comp. Goth. fastan, OIc. fasta, AS. fœstan, E. to fast, Du. vasten; a common Teut. verb, invariably used in the sense of ‘to fast,’ which, therefore, was probably a religions conception even of the heathen Teutons. The corresponding abstract is Goth. fastubni, AS. fœsten, OSax. fastunnia, OHG. fasta, fasto, m., MidHG. vaste, f., vasten, n., ‘fast,’ whence Slav. postŭ, ‘fast, was borrowed at an early period. The cognates are probably connected with fest in the sense of ‘to contain oneself, exercise restraint in eating and drinking,’ or ‘to obey a religious precept’; comp. Goth. fastan, ‘to adhere to, hold, observe.’ —