Fasten
Vine's Expository Dictionary of NT Words [1]
from atenes, "strained, intent," and teino, "to stretch, strain" (from a root ten---, seen in Eng., "tension, tense," etc.), signifies "to look fixedly, gaze, fasten one's eyes upon," and is found twelve times in the writings of Luke (ten in the Acts), out of its fourteen occurrences. It always has a strongly intensive meaning, and is translated "to fasten the eyes upon" in the AV and RV in Luke 4:20; Acts 3:4; 11:6; so in the RV, where the AV has different renderings, in Acts 6:15 (for AV, "looking steadfastly"); 10:4 ("looked"); 13:9 ("set his eyes"); 14:9 ("steadfastly beholding"). In Acts 7:55 , both have "looked up steadfastly." In the following the RV also varies the translation, Luke 22:56; Acts 1:10; 3:12; 23:1; 2—Corinthians 3:7,13 . See Behold , Look.
"to fasten on, lay hold of, attack," is used of the serpent which fastened on Paul's hand, Acts 28:3 .
King James Dictionary [2]
F'ASTEN, f'asn.
1. To fix firmly to make fast or close as, to fasten a chain to the feet, or to fasten the feet with fetters. 2. To lock, bolt or bar to secure as, to fasten a door or window. 3. To hold together to cement or to link to unite closely in any manner and by any means, as by cement, hooks, pins, nails, cords, &c. 4. To affix or conjoin.
The words Whig and Tory have been pressed to the service of many successions of parties, with different ideas fastened to them. Not common.
5. To fix to impress.
Thinking, by this face,
To fasten in our thoughts that they have courage.
6. To lay on with strength.
Could he fasten a blow, or make a thrust, when not suffered to approach?
F'ASTEN, To fasten on, is to fix one's self to seize and hold on to clinch.
The leech will hardly fasten on a fish.
Webster's Dictionary [3]
(1): ( a.) To cause to hold together or to something else; to attach or unite firmly; to cause to cleave to something , or to cleave together, by any means; as, to fasten boards together with nails or cords; to fasten anything in our thoughts.
(2): ( a.) To cause to take close effect; to make to tell; to lay on; as, to fasten a blow.
(3): ( a.) To fix firmly; to make fast; to secure, as by a knot, lock, bolt, etc.; as, to fasten a chain to the feet; to fasten a door or window.
(4): ( v. i.) To fix one's self; to take firm hold; to clinch; to cling.
Wilson's Dictionary of Bible Types [4]
Ecclesiastes 12:11 (a) This refers to the permanent effect in the heart and mind of messages which may come from GOD, or from other sources. They make a permanent impression on the one who hears them.
Isaiah 22:23 (a) GOD has set Christ securely in history and in prophecy, so that He can never be avoided, evaded, nor obscured.
Luke 4:20 (a) The audience gazed intently upon our Lord so as to miss nothing that was said or done by Him. (See also Acts 11:6).
