holdfast

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See also: Holdfast

English[edit]

a workbench holdfast

Etymology[edit]

hold +‎ fast

Noun[edit]

holdfast (plural holdfasts)

  1. Something to or by which an object can be securely fastened.
    • 1658, Sir Thomas Browne, The Garden of Cyrus, Folio Society, published 2007, page 198:
      And Ivy divided from the root, we have observed to live some years, by the cirrous parts commonly conceived but as tentacles and holdfasts unto it.
  2. (biology) A root-like structure that anchors aquatic sessile organisms, such as seaweed, other sessile algae, stalked crinoids, benthic cnidarians, and sponges, to the substrate.
    Hyponym: hapteron
  3. (archaic, medicine) Actinomycosis.
  4. The aspect of a character that experiences destructive temptation.
    • 2006, James Bonnet, Stealing Fire from the Gods: The Complete Guide to Story for Writers and Filmmakers:
      Alienation: A stage on the downside of the passage wherein the holdfast and the antihero take actions which bring about a disintegration of personality.

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